STEPHEN Ward hopes to be back in training in two weeks as he targets a return to the Burnley first team.

The 29-year-old Republic of Ireland international has been out since fracturing his foot in the 1-1 draw with Newcastle on December 2.

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“I would hope to be back involved in training within two weeks,” Ward told the Irish Herald.

“After that, I’d need at least one game in the reserves to get my match fitness back up to speed.

“I saw the specialist last week and he gave me the all-clear to step up my rehab, so in the last four-five days I have just been running and progressing quite well.

“I had been struggling a bit before that game, I had a bit of soreness down there, I think there was a problem there that I just didn’t know about .

“I was playing well and we were on a good run so it was unfortunate but these things happen and you can’t get too downhearted about it.

“The most important thing for me is that we stay up and we have shown over the last few weeks that we are capable of (doing) that.

“We have a busy schedule ahead of us now and I hope to get back in plenty of time to play a part before the end of the season.”