Benítez: "The pressure is similar"

Rafa Benítez has confirmed that defender Paul Dummett will miss Newcastle United's Premier League clash against Burnley on Monday.

23/11/2018nufc.co.uk

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Dummett picked up a hamstring injury during Wales' 2-1 defeat to Denmark in the Nations League a week ago, having been handed just his fourth international cap for his country.

Benítez opted against putting a timescale on the left back's recovery process, though did offer a more positive update on Frenchman Florian Lejeune, who has yet to figure for the Magpies this season.

"Obviously, Dummett is not available. He has been treated and we will see how he is getting on during the next week. (There is) no date – (there is) nothing to (say) about that, just he will miss this game," the Spaniard said.

"(Jamie) Sterry and Lejeune are still not available but Lejeune has been doing a full training session with the team, so he is getting closer. We don't want to take any risks yet but he is doing really, really well. (Jonjo) Shelvey, (Yoshinori) Mutō and (Jamaal) Lascelles did not complete a full training session but they are training on the pitch. We have another two sessions and we will see how they are. They may be available – I don't know if they can start, but they may be available. The only one that is 100 per cent sure he will not be available is Dummett."

Newcastle travel to Turf Moor level on points with Sean Dyche's side, having finally got their season up and running with successive victories over Watford and AFC Bournemouth.

Burnley are winless in the Premier League since a 2-1 success against Cardiff City on 30th September, but Benítez insisted that he hasn't been reading too much into the Clarets' own sluggish start to the campaign.

"They are quite strong at home. They lost against some of the best teams in the league but still, they are quite strong," he said. "I was watching the games and they had chances at the beginning – they were pushing. It will be a tough game for sure – it doesn't matter what they are doing now or what we are doing now. I think, obviously, they will try to get three points against us because we are close in the table, but the pressure is more or less similar."