Nahki Wells, Dean Marney and James Tarkowski all came through a valuable 90 minutes behind-closed-doors victory over Preston North End.
Tarkowski stepped up his bid to make a first-team return for Burnley this weekend, the center back has been absent with a groin injury since the 1-0 defeat to Manchester United on January 20th but he did his chances of returning to the starting line-up for the clash with Everton on Saturday no harm in a run-out at Turf Moor.
Meanwhile Wells was involved in a productive afternoon for Burnley as they beat the snow to beat their Lancashire rivals 4-0 thanks to two goals each from Sam Vokes and Georges-Kevin Nkoudou.
Heaton was playing his second game as he steps up his return to fitness from shoulder surgery while Wood came through his first 90 minutes since suffering a knee injury against Tottenham on December 23rd.
Preston fielded a first string side for the first hour at Turf Moor and gave Heaton a thorough examination, with the England international getting down well to make two good first half saves.
It was Burnley who led at the break though thanks to a double from Vokes, who was an unused substitute against Southampton last weekend.
First he headed home an excellent cross from young right-back James Clarke before nodding in a second after a volley from Wells was turned onto the bar by North End goalkeeper Chris Maxwell.
Tottenham loanee Nkoudou took on the goalscoring mantle in the second half as he looks to force his way into Sean Dyche's plans.
After 53 minutes he fired into the bottom corner and late on capitalized on Preston changing their entire team, latching on to a pass from Marney to score his second.
|
