Burnley head to Sincil Bank tomorrow with injuries forcing Nicky Hayen into changes and several players looking to recover from costly mistakes against Wolves.
Jamie Vardy’s absence leaves a vacancy up front, while Jacob Bruun Larsen‘s injury means another reshuffle out wide. There are still some very familiar names available to the Clarets, even with their lengthy list of absentees. We could be facing a Champions League winner at right-back, a Japanese international in midfield and a striker who cost a substantial fee only last summer.
Here is how Burnley could line up against us, with Max Weiss tipped for a recall and Armando Broja getting the nod to replace Vardy.
GK: Max Weiss
Weiss could return after Gregoire Coudert’s mistake contributed to Wolves’ winning goal last weekend. Coudert remains in contention, but that error gives Hayen another decision to make in a position where he could do with some certainty.
The German goalkeeper came through the academies at Hoffenheim, Sandhausen and Karlsruhe, making his senior debut for the latter in 2022. He became their first-choice keeper and played every league game in 2024/25 before joining Burnley on a four-year deal in June 2025.
RB: Kyle Walker
Walker was another player whose error proved costly against Wolves, with Connor Roberts available if Hayen decides to change things. The expectation is that he will retain his place, giving him the opportunity to respond at Sincil Bank.
Having emerged at Sheffield United and established himself at Tottenham, Walker joined Manchester City in 2017 and won six Premier League titles and the Champions League. He spent time on loan at AC Milan before signing for Burnley in July 2025, bringing the experience of 96 England caps with him.
CB: Hjalmar Ekdal
Anel Ahmedhodzic’s continued absence under concussion protocols leaves Ekdal likely to keep his place in the middle of the defence. That restricts Hayen’s options as he considers how to respond to the Wolves defeat.
The Swedish international played for several clubs in his homeland before making his name at Djurgarden, where he was named Allsvenskan Defender of the Year in 2021. Burnley signed him in January 2023, and he scored on his debut against Norwich before later spending the second half of 2024/25 on loan at Groningen.
CB: Igor Julio
Igor also made an error against Wolves, although the assessment from Burnley has been that he is among the few players to have performed consistently well this season. On that basis, he looks more likely to be given the chance to put it right than lose his place.
The Brazilian’s route to England took him through the Red Bull system in Austria, followed by spells with SPAL and Fiorentina in Italy. He joined Brighton in 2023, spent part of last season on loan at West Ham and completed a permanent move to Burnley in September.
LB: Lucas Pires
Pires has been one of Burnley’s better performers in recent weeks, with his display against Wolves earning particular praise. He looks a strong candidate to continue on the left of the back four while Hayen weighs up changes elsewhere.
After developing at Corinthians, Pires broke into senior football with Santos and then spent a season on loan at Cadiz in La Liga. His first senior goal came against Atletico Madrid, before Burnley brought him to England in July 2024.
CM: Max Alleyne
With Josh Cullen not expected back until next week at the earliest, Alleyne is likely to continue in the holding midfield role. He is a centre-back by trade, so this remains a case of Hayen asking a young player to fill a gap outside his usual position.
Alleyne moved from Southampton’s academy to Manchester City in 2021 and progressed through England’s youth teams to under-21 level. He gained Championship experience on loan at Watford last season before joining Burnley on another loan this summer.
CM: Reo Hatate
Hatate has shown encouraging flashes since arriving, although Burnley are still waiting for those spells to become a complete performance over 90 minutes. The same criticism has been levelled at the team, leaving Hayen needing more consistency from one of his midfield options.
The Japan international came through university football before establishing himself with Kawasaki Frontale and moving to Celtic at the start of 2022. He won domestic honours and played Champions League football in Glasgow before joining Burnley on a three-year contract in September.
RW: Marcus Edwards
Bruun Larsen’s injury opens the door for Edwards to come into the side on the right. That would allow Ramazani to move across to the left, giving Hayen a way to cover the absence without changing the whole attacking setup.
Edwards came through Tottenham’s academy but made his breakthrough in Portugal with Vitoria de Guimaraes, earning a move to Sporting in January 2022. After winning the Portuguese title and playing in the Champions League, he initially joined Burnley on loan in February 2025 before making the move permanent that summer.
AM: Josh Laurent
Laurent could again be used further forward, although his role is another decision for Hayen given Burnley’s difficulties in the final third. His application has not been questioned, but the Clarets need more attacking quality around him to turn that work into chances.
His career has taken him from QPR and a loan spell at Braintree through Hartlepool, Wigan, Bury and Shrewsbury. He won Reading’s Player of the Season award in 2020/21, subsequently moved to Stoke and signed for Burnley in August 2024.
LW: Largie Ramazani
Ramazani has scored twice since arriving from Leeds and has been one of Burnley’s more threatening attacking players. With Edwards potentially coming in on the opposite flank, he could switch to the left as Hayen works around Bruun Larsen’s absence.
The Belgian developed at Charlton and Manchester United before establishing himself at Almeria, where he helped win promotion and scored against Real Madrid in La Liga. Leeds signed him in August 2024, and he spent last season on loan at Valencia before making another temporary move to Burnley in September.
ST: Armando Broja
With Vardy and Zeki Amdouni unavailable, Broja gets the nod ahead of Andreas Hountondji in this prediction. Hayen has suggested he could alter the structure, however, so the identity of the central striker remains one of the less certain selections.
The Albania international came through Chelsea’s academy and enjoyed productive loans at Vitesse and Southampton before further spells with Fulham and Everton. Burnley signed him on a five-year contract in August 2025 in a deal reported to be worth around £20 million.
Predicted Burnley XI
4-2-3-1: Weiss; Walker, Ekdal, Igor Julio, Pires; Alleyne, Hatate; Edwards, Laurent, Ramazani; Broja.
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