Burnley vs Leicester City becomes latest Premier League match to be postponed

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Burnley vs Leicester City on Saturday has become the latest Premier League game to be postponed.

The Premier League accepted a request lodged by Burnley, who were already without several players through Covid, injuries and Maxwel Cornet’s absence at the Africa Cup of Nations prior to the enforced sale of Chris Wood to relegation rivals Newcastle this week.

A league statement said: “The Premier League Board accepted Burnley’s application as the club does not have the required number of players available for the match (13 outfield players and one goalkeeper), due to COVID-19 cases and injuries.”

It is the fourth Burnley match this season to be postponed due to Covid, but the first time the request has come from the Turf Moor club.

Burnley saw three consecutive matches - against Watford, Aston Villa and Everton - postponed last month due to Covid cases within the opposition camps, while November’s fixture against Tottenham was called off at short notice due to heavy snow.

That has left Burnley with a number of games in hand on other clubs around them at the foot of the table. Dyche’s side have played 17 league games this season, the fewest of any side in the top flight, and now have four matches to reschedule.

The rearranged match against Watford is due to be played on Tuesday, though must now be in doubt.

Saturday’s opponents Leicester are among the other Premier League sides to have been badly hit by Covid.

Though ready to play this weekend, the Foxes had been forced to postponed Tuesday’s trip to Everton, a match which had already been rearranged from December.

Burnley were without seven players due to Covid during last weekend’s 2-1 FA Cup loss to Championship side Huddersfield, a match that was also missed by manager Sean Dyche as assistant Ian Woan took charge on the day.

Dyche is now out of isolation and had been due to speak to the media on Friday, his first chance to address Wood’s abrupt exit for St James’ Park after Newcastle activated a release clause in the New Zealand international’s contract. However, that press conference has now been cancelled.