Clarets waiting on Jensen

Posted Saturday, October 31, 2009 by PA

Owen Coyle will give goalkeeper Brian Jensen "every chance" to recover from the injury he sustained in last weekend's home defeat to Wigan.

X-rays revealed the Burnley stopper, who has yet to resume full training, had suffered only slight ligament damage to his ankle so Diego Penny is on stand-by for Saturday's clash with Hull should he be needed.

Stephen Jordan suffered a thigh strain in the same game but he is expected to recover in time.

The Clarets are still without long-term absentees Martin Paterson, Chris McCann (both knee) and Jay Rodriguez (ankle).

Owen Coyle has called for a sense of perspective from his side ahead of the Turf Moor clash.

Coyle's side had not dropped any points on home soil since the 4-2 defeat in the Championship at the hands of Sheffield Wednesday at the end of February until they slipped to a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Wigan last weekend.

In the interim the Clarets won 10 in a row, becoming the first newly promoted club to win their opening four Premier League home games with victories over Manchester United, Everton, Sunderland and Birmingham.

However, they were brought crashing back down to earth this month with a defeat by local rivals Blackburn, their fifth consecutive loss on their travels, and the Wigan loss.

Those back-to-back defeats have altered the outlook of many Burnley fans who were looking up the league table without fear.

Some have already dubbed the game a `six-pointer', but Coyle has called for calm and asked supporters to take a balanced look at what the club has achieved over the past two seasons before criticising the team.

"The bottom line is that we're looking to put in a consistent performance, an entertaining performance and win three points," said Coyle.

"It's the same three points for each and every game. I've said that before because you raise the bar in terms of expectation which we have.

"It's coming up to two years since I came to a football club languishing in the Championship and we've come up to the Premier League having spent less money than what we've brought in, having done it on the revenue and budget which was in the bottom four of the Championship, having played 61 games, having lost narrowly in the semi-finals of the Carling Cup, we've got to this stage and all of a sudden the expectation rises."

Troubled Hull will be without goalkeeper Boaz Myhill.

The Wales international injured his medial knee ligaments in the closing stages of last weekend's goalless draw with fellow strugglers Portsmouth and will sit out the clash, though under-pressure manager Phil Brown is hopeful he will not prove a long-term absentee.

Star midfielder Jimmy Bullard did not train with his team-mates on Thursday due to a shin injury and a decision is still to be made on his participation at Turf Moor.

The clash with theClarets pits the Tigers against a team whose start to top-flight life has drawn similar plaudits to those garnered by City last season.

Wins at Arsenal and Tottenham were the stand-out moments as Hull hit the ground running after their 2008 Coca-Cola Championship play-off success, and Coyle's side have upset Manchester United and Everton in a fine start.

"After 10 games (last season), we had 20 points," Brown recalled. "After 10 games they've got 12 points - references or parallels are entirely for you (the media) to make. We had a tremendous start last season, that's the reason we are playing Premier League football now.

"It's a tough game, I think Coyley's surprised everybody by winning as many games as he has done so far, certainly at home.

"The surprise package of the Premier League at this moment in time is Burnley Football Club - their home form, certainly against the likes of Everton and Manchester United, was not expected to say the least.

"Maybe the defeat last Saturday against Wigan has had an adverse effect on them and we will go to Turf Moor to try to exploit that.

"It's going to be a tough venue to go to but it's one where, if we go fully prepared, we can win the game.

"That's all the players are paid to do - we've seen on the training ground that there are some bright, lively players wanting to put their case forward to play.

"The reason why it's a big game is because it's the next three points, I've made reference to that since I've been here. It's a big game simply because it is the next game.

"As a manager your position's always strengthened by results, and that's what we're aiming for."