Sam Vokes could give Burnley manager Sean Dyche a fitness boost ahead of the festive period after making a successful return in an Under-21 fixture.
The Welshman scored on his first outing for eight months as he stepped up his recovery from a serious knee injury which has prevented him from playing in the Premier League since the Clarets' promotion.
Vokes played the first half of a 2-0 victory for Burnley's development squad over Carlisle United, but is not expected to feature for the first team before the visit of Southampton to Turf Moor on December 13.
"It's his first real step on the way back," Dyche told the Lancashire Telegraph. "He's been training with us and growing in confidence as well as feeling good.
"The next stage of that was obviously playing in a reserve game and he's done that and got 45 minutes under his belt.
"It's another positive step for him but we won't rush him back as we want him to come back fit once fully ready."
Vokes scored 21 goals in 44 starts last season and formed one half of the Championship's most potent strike force alongside Danny Ings, whose brace against Stoke City on Saturday helped Burnley to successive wins.
Joe Fish
