BURNLEY will be one of the few Premier League clubs who will not be hit by the Africa Cup of Nations which gets underway in Gabon on Saturday.

While Tendayi Darikwa is eligible to represent Zimbabwe he has never been called up by ‘The Warriors’ and is not part of their squad for the tournament.

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Only seven Premier League clubs will remain at full strength, with the other 13 all seeing at least one player called up for the tournament which takes place from January 14 to February 5.

Sunderland are one of the hardest hit top flight clubs and the Black Cats are in need of points at the bottom of the table, while boss David Moyes is also handling an injury crisis at the Stadium of Light.

Burnley and Sunderland have become well acquainted recently and next Tuesday’s FA Cup replay will be their third meeting in 18 days.

Senegal defender Papy Djilibodji has remained on Wearside due to his exile from international duty, citing personal differences with the manager.

But his central defensive partner Lamine Kone is part of the Ivory Coast squad and club record signing Didier Ndong is with the host nation for the tournament.

Sunderland are also without Tunisia Wahbi Khazri, although he hasn’t featured much under Moyes.

The Premier League’s bottom club, Hull City, will be stripped of wide man Ahmed Elmohamady (Egypt) and striker Dieumerci Mbokani (DR Congo), but Swansea City will be missing nobody.

Crystal Palace will be frustrated to see their star man of recent weeks, Wilfried Zaha, join up with Ivory Coast, having recently pledged his allegiance to the country ahead of England.

Palace are also without Mali’s Bakary Sako, although he has been linked with a move away from Selhurst Park this month, but Middlesbrough have suffered no call-ups.

Of Burnley’s opponents during the AFCON, Southampton will arrive at Turf Moor on Saturday without their summer signing Sofiane Boufal, who is in the Morocco squad.

The Clarets travel to Arsenal on January 22, with the Gunners’ only absentee midfielder Mohamed Elneny, who is in the Egypt squad but hasn’t featured much for Arsene Wenger’s side anyway this season.

Leicester’s visit to Turf Moor on January 31 could present Burnley with a chance to take advantage of the weakened Foxes.

Claudio Ranieri has lost Riyad Mahrez and Islam Slimani to Algeria, as well as Daniel Amartey to Ghana, but they are one of several clubs to benefit from Nigeria’s failure to qualify, allowing Ahmed Musa to remain in the East Midlands.

The final weekend of the tournament coincides with Burnley’s trip to Watford. The Hornets could be without Nordin Amrabat (Morocco) and Adlene Guedioura (Algeria) if their countries have progressed that far.

At the top of the table Chelsea have avoided any call-ups to the tournament, as have Manchester City and Tottenham, while Manchester United will only be without defender Eric Bailly.

Liverpool could be hardest hit in the title race, with Sadio Mane representing Senegal.