Lancashire

Image source, Getty Images

Burnley boss Scott Parker says the midfield options he has available have given him a "good problem" ahead of Saturday's trip to Stoke City.

The Clarets comfortable 2-0 victory over Coventry City on Tuesday saw them pick up their third consecutive league win and the former England international has admitted the team's recent performances have left him with a selection headache.

"I’m very happy, I think there’s a real balance there in terms of attributes in the different players," he told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"There’s decisions to be made in terms of game profile and what we need."

Parker selected Hannibal Mejbri and Josh Laurent on Tuesday but can also rely on Josh Cullen and club captain Josh Brownhill to anchor the midfield on Saturday - the latter expected to be passed fit for the trip to Staffordshire.

"Hannibal’s come out the team and then come back in the team the last couple of games and done extremely well, he brings a different energy," Parker added.

"Along with the other boys Josh Laurent, and the ones who have been mainstays for large parts, so, good problems for me to have certainly and it gives us a real depth in our squad in them areas."

Image source, Rex Features

Burnley boss Scott Parker hopes influential skipper Josh Brownhill could be back for Saturday's trip to Stoke.

The Clarets are two points off the top and on a run of three straight wins and four clean sheets ahead of their trip to the Bet365 Stadium.

Five-goal leading scorer Brownhill had played every minute of 15 Championship matches until Saturday's win at his former club Bristol City, when he went off after 84 minutes with an apparent knock.

He subsequently missed Tuesday night's win over Coventry at Turf Moor, with Josh Laurent taking his place in midfield.

Parker told the club website, external: "Josh trained on the grass today. After the weekend’s game it probably came a little too early to play him on Tuesday.

"He has progressed well, but we will see where we are on Friday and make a call on that."

"There's good signs with a few of the lads, Joe Worrall, Lyle Foster and Hannes Delcroix are all progressing nicely and have been out on the grass.

"It's just about getting game time now, which is key for them. Getting minutes for the 21s and then building that back up to match fitness."