Ben Gibson will step up his comeback in the Under-23s on Saturday.
Boss Sean Dyche confirmed that next Monday night’s Premier League visit of Newcastle United will come too soon for the former Middlesbrough captain – whose last senior appearance came in the Europa League in August – to return to the Clarets’ first-team squad.
But after resuming full training following a second hernia operation at the start of the month, the summer signing will get the chance to build up his match fitness as an over-age player when Steve Stone’s side goes to Birmingham City in the U23 Professional Development League.