Burnley trio return from injury for Under-21s as Josh Cullen nears comeback

Burnley trio Josh Cullen, Jaydon Banel, and Ashley Barnes returned from injury on Friday, each playing 45 minutes for the Under-21s in a 3-1 Premier League 2 loss to West Ham. Cullen's appearance marked his first match in 10 months following an ACL tear suffered against Everton in December. Burnley manager Nicky Hayen indicated the club captain could potentially feature for the senior side against Lincoln City on Saturday if he suffers no setbacks.

Banel also made his return after being sidelined since pre-season, while Barnes featured after missing time following his return to the club. Zach Johnson scored Burnley's only goal via a second-half penalty after West Ham secured a three-goal advantage during the first half.