SKIPPER Stephen Darby is in line for his first pre-season outing at Burnley on Saturday – after getting stick from his City team-mates for missing training.

Phil Parkinson is looking for the right back to play some part at Turf Moor in the final friendly before the League One campaign starts at Swindon.

Darby has not been involved so far because of a stomach problem that has affected him on and off since the end of last season.

But he could be ready for a run-out against the Clarets after reporting no problems from stepping up his recovery work.

Parkinson admitted: "He's not going to be far off. We thought about giving him 20 minutes at Whitby but we don't want to waste all the good work he's done.

"He's got a bit to do and he needs to get some real football in his legs over the next couple of days and maybe have a taste of the game on Saturday.

"He's a key player for us. We've missed him in pre-season out on the training pitch.

"The lads have been giving him some light-hearted stick about that because he hates missing training. I can't remember him ever doing that in the whole time he's been here.

"But he got himself to a decent level of fitness before the groin flared up again, so hopefully he'll be okay."

Darby, who has started more games than any other City player for the past two seasons, has been out on the pitch before the last two friendlies working with the backroom staff and he began training again with the squad on Monday.

Parkinson said: "Darbs is doing really well and we're so pleased. He hasn't had much of a pre-season but he's in a good place in terms of his groin and that's the most important thing.

"We were concerned when it flared up again but he's worked exceptionally hard. So far he's come through unscathed with everything we've asked him to do.

"He had another hard running session before the Whitby game and joined in the keep-ball. We'll see how the next couple of days go for him."