DANNY Ings could be out of action for the rest of the month after suffering upper ankle ligament damage.

Burnley’s top scorer was sidelined for Saturday’s 2-1 win over Leeds United after sustaining the injury in a heavy challenge in the second half of their midweek draw at Birmingham City.

Manager Sean Dyche said it was too early to tell how long Ings would be out for.

The club will seek further medical advice this week to determine the length of recovery required.

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But it is likely the England Under 21 international will miss upcoming games against Charlton and Doncaster, and could be struggling to be fit in time for the visit of leaders Leicester City on March 29.

However, Dyche has described Ings’ absence as a ‘great opportunity’ for someone else, and praised January signing Ashley Barnes for an impressive full debut.

"The team has won again and we take great value in the group - and the group is the key thing," said the Burnley boss.

"It's hard making your full debut, we all know that, and he (Barnes) looked a bit nervy and a bit edgy for the first 15-20 minutes, slowly got stronger in the first half and then in the second half I thought you saw what he's about.

"He's willing to work, his hold-up play was very good, his awareness from his hold-up play, we take great value in him and we think he's going to do very well for us. He's been working well in training, waiting for his chance.

"We're really pleased for Ashley and of course the team."

Burnley came back from behind to win 2-1 for the second weekend in a row, benefiting from a Jason Pearce own goal to cancel out Ross McCormack's opener, with Scott Arfield going on to score a second half winner and send the Clarets 10 points clear in second place.

"It was an interesting game, the challenge is there for all to see for Leeds, they've had a couple of awkward results but I know their staff well and warned the players they would be up for it and they would have to be ready, and I think they were," said Dyche.

"We just gave a soft goal away, and that can happen, but once again there was that relentless mentality.

"I didn't have so much quality as a player, but I had a relentless mentality, and I believe in it.

"I said to the lads 'you can believe anything, go for anything, keep going forward, and against some belief last season, but I believe in attacking, I never believe in just defending.

"I thought that was clear again."

Of Ings' injury Dyche added: "It's his upper ankle ligament so we'll get it checked out in more detail this week.

"He's already had a scan, that follows up with an opinion, so we'll wait for that opinion. "There are people a lot more specialist than me who decide about injuries."