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Burnley duo Matt Lowton, Fredrik Ulvestad both doubts for season opener

Matt Lowton and Fredrik Ulvestad are both doubts for Burnley ahead of the start of the new season after sustaining injuries.

Burnley's Matt Lowton and Fredrik Ulvestad are both doubts for the start of the season after sustaining injuries.

Former Aston Villa defender Lowton has picked up a shin injury, while Norway international Ulvestad was stretchered off and sent for an X-ray just four minutes after coming on for the Clarets in Michael Duff's testimonial match on Saturday.

Burnley boss Sean Dyche said that the rest of his side's fitness is improving ahead of the start of the new season.

"Generally the fitness of the players is getting where it needs to be," he told the Lancashire Telegraph. "I said all along I know it's hard for supporters but we have to build in stages. We're getting to the end stage before the real season starts.

"My belief is that you've not just got to be full of fitness, you've got to be full of energy. It showed on Saturday, the strength of the team to keep going. They kept getting it forward relentlessly. Particularly the middle 15 minutes of the second half, we rode through that, kept the ball and scored the second goal.

"There were good signs but I still demand more. We're getting there but we need more because we know the challenge that's coming. The only real question I've posed the players is that we've got to be more clinical, because we created enough chances (against Bradford) to be out of sight."

The Clarets begin their Championship campaign away to Leeds United on Saturday.

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Miles Jolliffe
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Danny Ings of Burnley celebrates after he scores with a header during the Barclays Premier League match between Aston Villa and Burnley at Villa Park on May 24, 2015
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