Sam Allardyce is playing his cards close to his chest over whether his recovered players will find their way into his first team plans for the clash at Burnley.

Mark Noble and James Collins (right) are expected to travel with Ricardo Vaz Te perhaps on the fringes of the squad.

But asked if the previously injured players would return Allardyce said: “I don’t know whether it’s a given or not.

“The challenge for me is to make sure I pick the right team and formation in the game and how you are going to play against the opposition.

“When you have a full squad to choose from then you have to make big decisions and you have to disappoint people if they are all fit. That’s what they have to accept.

“I just want to see on Saturday if the players have the mentality to show the same consistency as they have and whether they have got the right desire and determination to win back-to-back football matches for the first time this season.

“That is their first test against a Burnley side that are undoubtedly well-organised and make things very difficult, even if they have not won a game yet.

“Somewhere along the line they are going to win a game very shortly and we have got to make sure it is not against us.”