Burnley injury crisis as Nick Pope rushed to hospital following shoulder KO against Aberdeen after Tom Heaton pulls out with calf crock
England stopper's night was ended after just 13 minutes when he collided with team-mate James Tarkowski
BURNLEY have been hit by a keeper crisis two weeks before the season starts after Nick Pope was rushed to hospital following an injury he picked up against Aberdeen in their Europa League qualifier.
The England stopper started between the sticks after Tom Heaton was ruled out with a calf injury.
But Pope's night was ended after just 13 minutes when team-mate James Tarkowski's knee collided with his shoulder.
Pope, 26, looked in pain holding his shoulder and was swiftly replaced by Dane Anders Lindegaard before being taken to hospital.
Sean Dyche will be hoping the problem is not too serious with Heaton, 32, also struggling.
Heaton, who has three England caps, aggravated a calf injury in Monday's friendly win at Preston and did not travel with the Burnley squad to Scotland.
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Dyche said: "He’s got a niggly calf, he hasn’t travelled.
“We thought he would be OK but it was niggling on and now we have to be careful.
“Of course these games are important, it’s a real competition, but we’ve equally got to make sure players are fit for the season, which is two weeks away.
“We want a full squad ready for a Premier League season so there is that delicate balance between pushing people enough to get through that, but if there’s any doubt and they have to stay away from the game then we need them fit for a longer view.
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“It had been niggling for a couple of days but he felt he was alright and then Monday he felt it a bit too much which is why we got him off at half-time. We don’t think it’s a major one but it’s not settled down enough for tonight.”
Burnley No1 Heaton spent much of last season injured and Pope shone in his absence.
His brilliant performances earned him a place in Gareth Southgate's England squad to take to the World Cup in Russia.
But both Pope and Stoke stopper Jack Butland were kept out of the teamsheet by Everton star Jordan Pickford.