SAM Vokes has no chance of making the subs bench for tomorrow’s game with Southampton, according to Burnley boss Sean Dyche.

Vokes completed 90 minutes this week for the first time since suffering the cruciate knee ligament injury against Leicester City at the end of March.

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The Welsh international striker has now played 45 minutes, 70 minutes and 90 minutes in three games for the Clarets development squad, but Dyche insists he isn’t ready for a first team return just yet.

“It means it’s just 90 minutes under his belt and he’s feeling better about himself because of that physical and mental demand,” said the Burnley boss.

“It’s a big marker for players, it’s like pre-season - you come back, you get back into your games and your big markers are when you get 90 minutes. How you feel is as important as how you play.”

Michael Duff returned to training this week after missing the last two games with a calf injury. The 36-year-old suffered the injury in the win at Stoke City, and then aggravated it last weekend.

He was back in full training yesterday, but is unlikely to be fit enough to regain his place from the start tomorrow, with Michael Keane set to deputise again.

Dyche is hopeful Duff with return before the New Year, but Matt Taylor and Stephen Ward won’t be involved over the festive period.

Taylor remains ‘weeks away’ after an Achilles operation, while Ward has also gone under the knife after fracturing his ankle in the 1-1 draw with Newcastle at the start of the month and is set for a minimum of a six weeks out.