Andre Bikey injury not as bad as first feared
Burnley has confirmed that key defender Andre Bikey did not break a rib as first feared against Millwall last weekend.
Bikey took a blow to the chest when he went up for a header during the opening stages of the Championship clash. The Cameroon international immediately went down in some pain but he's now been cleared
of any serious injury.
"We kept Andre down in London for X-rays on his damaged rib.
It has come back as just bruising, which is good news," said Burnley manager Brian Laws.
The club can take many positives from this news because Bikey is a key figure in the way the team plays defensively. Laws will be relieved that he doesn't face the grim
task of having to re-structure the back four.
Many positives
Bikey is a prominent figure in the Burnley defence. He provides much needed height and strength when Burnley faces physically bigger sides in the Championship. This strength
means he can go shoulder to shoulder with most strikers and come out of any challenge with the ball.
Bikey is arguably the best aerial player in the football club. His power and height allows him to challenge for the ball when it is played long to the opposition's strikers.
This can force an opposition team to change a game plan within a couple of minutes of a game starting.
His ability in the air also makes him a very threatening player going forward for Burnley. He goes up for a lot of corners and set pieces. This means he will have more
chances to score with headers.
"Andre will still go to Cameroon on international duty, but we hope he should
be fit and well for our next league game against Sheffield United," added Laws.
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