Burnley manager Sean Dyche has defended Danny Drinkwater after the midfielder was involved in an incident outside of a Manchester nightclub.
The altercation left the 29-year-old with cuts and bruises to his face and an ankle injury that is set to sideline the former Leicester player for weeks.
“They [footballers] are actually human beings,” Dyche said. ”They do have private lives – which sometimes are not private, obviously – and sometimes they get in scrapes.
“He’s certainly old enough and wise enough to know you do whatever you can to not get in scrapes, but sometimes it happens.”
Dyche would not reveal whether or not Burnley have imposed a punishment on Drinkwater, who won the English Premier League with Leicester in 2016 and joined the Clarets on loan from Chelsea this summer.
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3/20 Lloyd Kelly (20) – Bournemouth
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5/20 Josh Benson (19) – Burnley
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6/20 Reece James (19) – Chelsea
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8/20 Lewis Gibson (19) – Everton
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9/20 George Hirst (20) – Leicester
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10/20 Ki-Jana Hoever (17) – Liverpool
The Dutch centre-back was handed his debut in the FA Cup at just 16 years old and will expect to get more first-team minutes under Jurgen Klopp, who is an outspoken admirer of Virgil van Dijk’s mentee.
Liverpool FC via Getty Images
11/20 Ian Carlo Poveda (19) – Manchester City
After spells at Arsenal, Chelsea, Barcelona and Brentford, City snapped up the England youth international, who made his debut in the League Cup win over Burton last season.
Manchester City FC via Getty Ima
12/20 Brandon Williams (18) – Manchester United
The highly touted left-back travelled with United’s Champions League squad after an impressive season with the U18s and is set to challenge Luke Shaw in years to come.
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13/20 Matty Longstaff (19) – Newcastle
His older brother Sean has stolen the plaudits thus far, but his younger brother is not far behind and was included on the club’s pre-season tour of China.
PA
14/20 Stephen Mallon (20) – Sheffield United
The Irishman impressed on loan in Australia last season before appearing in the Toulon Tournament.
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15/20 Adam Idah (18) – Norwich
The 18-year-old striker was awarded a new contract in the summer after scoring a goal every 170 minutes for the U23s last season before impressing for Ireland in the Toulon Tournament over the summer.
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16/20 Jake Vokins (19) – Southampton
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17/20 Troy Parrott (17) – Tottenham
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19/20 Amadou Diallo (16) – West Ham
The prodigious winger is regarded as one of England’s best prospects and has soared through the academy age groups, attracting a wealth of suitors from across Europe.
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20/20 Terence Taylor (18) – Wolves
The defensive midfielder excited on the club’s pre-season tour, having been called up to Wales’ senior squad while still a 17-year-old.
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1/20 Emile Smith Rowe (19) – Arsenal
The winger made a prolific breakthrough into the first-team last season, scoring three goals in six games, before being ruled out with a groin injury. After spending six months at RB Leipzig last season, he has been promoted to the senior squad on a full-time basis.
Getty
2/20 Colin Odutayo (18) – Aston Villa
The skilful Netherlands youth international impressed in the U18s Premier League last season, cutting in off the left-wing scoring 7 goals and adding a further four assists.
Getty
3/20 Lloyd Kelly (20) – Bournemouth
Suffered a cruel injury blow soon after joining the Cherries from Bristol for £13m over the summer. The full-back has huge potential and will be hopeful of breaking into the starting eleven quickly.
AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images
4/20 Aaron Connolly (19) – Brighton
The young Irish striker had a brilliant season for the U23s, ending the season with 16 goals in 18 appearances. Can hope to make his breakthrough in the
Getty
5/20 Josh Benson (19) – Burnley
Joined after ending a two-year scholarship at Arsenal and was included in Burnley’s pre-season tour of Portugal.
Getty
6/20 Reece James (19) – Chelsea
Starring on loan at Wigan last season, the versatile full-back was named in the Championship team of the season and is pushing for a starting place after Davide Zappacosta’s departure.
Getty
7/20 Tyrick Mitchell (19) – Crystal Palace
The young full-back was included in the club’s pre-season plans and has been compared to Aaron Wan-Bissaka by teammate Andros Townsend.
Getty
8/20 Lewis Gibson (19) – Everton
The centre-back joined the Toffees from Newcastle for a fee that could ultimately rise to £6m and has immediately impressed with the club’s youth sides.
Everton FC via Getty Images
9/20 George Hirst (20) – Leicester
The England youth international joined Leicester in the summer after one season with the club’s sister side OH Leuven in Belgium and featured in this summer’s Toulon Tournament.
Getty
10/20 Ki-Jana Hoever (17) – Liverpool
The Dutch centre-back was handed his debut in the FA Cup at just 16 years old and will expect to get more first-team minutes under Jurgen Klopp, who is an outspoken admirer of Virgil van Dijk’s mentee.
Liverpool FC via Getty Images
11/20 Ian Carlo Poveda (19) – Manchester City
After spells at Arsenal, Chelsea, Barcelona and Brentford, City snapped up the England youth international, who made his debut in the League Cup win over Burton last season.
Manchester City FC via Getty Ima
12/20 Brandon Williams (18) – Manchester United
The highly touted left-back travelled with United’s Champions League squad after an impressive season with the U18s and is set to challenge Luke Shaw in years to come.
Getty
13/20 Matty Longstaff (19) – Newcastle
His older brother Sean has stolen the plaudits thus far, but his younger brother is not far behind and was included on the club’s pre-season tour of China.
PA
14/20 Stephen Mallon (20) – Sheffield United
The Irishman impressed on loan in Australia last season before appearing in the Toulon Tournament.
Getty
15/20 Adam Idah (18) – Norwich
The 18-year-old striker was awarded a new contract in the summer after scoring a goal every 170 minutes for the U23s last season before impressing for Ireland in the Toulon Tournament over the summer.
PA
16/20 Jake Vokins (19) – Southampton
The young full-back seems destined to make a push for first-team minutes and can challenge Ryan Bertrand after the Saints opted to sell Matt Targett.
Southampton FC via Getty Images
17/20 Troy Parrott (17) – Tottenham
The Irish striker starred during Spurs’ pre-season and has since returned to goalscoring form with the U23s. Mauricio Pochettino is a keen admirer and a debut is not far away.
REUTERS
18/20 Joao Pedro (17) – Watford
The Brazilian prodigy has thrilled at Fluminese and will link up with Watford’s senior squad in January once he has turned 18.
Getty
19/20 Amadou Diallo (16) – West Ham
The prodigious winger is regarded as one of England’s best prospects and has soared through the academy age groups, attracting a wealth of suitors from across Europe.
Getty
20/20 Terence Taylor (18) – Wolves
The defensive midfielder excited on the club’s pre-season tour, having been called up to Wales’ senior squad while still a 17-year-old.
Getty
“It’s been more that sort of situation, have a chat with him and say: ‘What happened first of all, what was the situation that led to it? Okay, let’s move away from that, now where to do we go from here?’ So I think that’s where we’re at.”
It is not the first off-the-pitch issue that Drinkwater has experienced this year – he pleaded guilty to a drink-driving charge in May.
“You can’t just talk about development when it’s good news, you also have to work with players if things are not quite as good,” Dyche said.
The Burnley boss, who previously worked with Drinkwater at Watford, insisted he would not hold the incident against the midfielder.
“I’m not too worried about things in the past, we try and look for the things that we can sort out for the future.
“This is just a bump in the situation. We want to make sure he gets back to being fully fit, playing well, the eye of the tiger that it takes to be a top player.
“He wants to be back there playing well. He’s had a tough couple of years football-wise, not playing much. He wants the hunger and desire to flood back into him, and you have to earn that.”
