Deprecated: str_replace(): Passing null to parameter #3 ($subject) of type array|string is deprecated in /home/zbyiujsu/public_html/wp-content/plugins/jnews-social-share/class.jnews-initial-counter.php on line 40
Deprecated: str_replace(): Passing null to parameter #3 ($subject) of type array|string is deprecated in /home/zbyiujsu/public_html/wp-content/plugins/jnews-social-share/class.jnews-initial-counter.php on line 40
Deprecated: str_replace(): Passing null to parameter #3 ($subject) of type array|string is deprecated in /home/zbyiujsu/public_html/wp-content/plugins/jnews-social-share/class.jnews-initial-counter.php on line 40
Deprecated: str_replace(): Passing null to parameter #3 ($subject) of type array|string is deprecated in /home/zbyiujsu/public_html/wp-content/plugins/jnews-social-share/class.jnews-initial-counter.php on line 40
Burnley head coach Vincent Kompany has emphasised that Lyle Foster is not ready to go to the African Cup Of Nations next month despite his return to the pitch.
In the beginning of November, Burnley announced that Foster needed to take a break and was taken care of by specialists due to mental health issues.
After missing eight games overall, Foster made a surprise return last weekend against Everton, rising hopes that he’d have overcome his struggles and would perhaps also be ready in time for next month’s Africa Cup of Nations after he was included in Hugo Broos’ 50-man preliminary squad.
But Kompany said the medical advice he has been receiving is that Foster shouldn’t go to AFCON and instead continue to focus on his recovery.
“It’s not even my decision, it’s not up to me. He just can’t [go to AFCON]. It’s the medical advice we’re getting at the moment,” Kompany told Burnley Express.
“The conflict of course is that he loves to play for his country. Even from my side, the AFCON is a big trophy, it’s a big competition.
“It’s important for me as an African coach to support the competition, but it’s not up to me. I just relay [the message].
“We’ve done everything for the human being to this point, there’s no reason to change all of a sudden now.”
Kompany also addressed Foster’s surprise return in the previous match against Everton, when the South African striker made his first appearance since the club confirmed he needed a break due to mental health issues.
“It was a surprise to us as well [that he was ready]. We hadn’t really expected that he was able to return. But it was the opinion of the experts that keeping him in his natural environment was important,” the coach explained.
“Football is part of his life, it’s something he needs to do to be happy as well.
“We were ready for anything and 45 minutes physically is what he was able to do. In the second-half you could see how much of an impact he can have.
– Advertisement –
“I have to add, it’s really important not to confuse things. This is part of his process of getting back, it’s not like we can fly him all over the world now. This is just part of his return to health.
“We follow what the medical experts say. It’s step by step, it’s being with the team, being with people he considers his friends and keeping a very small world for him. That seems to put him in a good place. This is just part of his recovery.”