Burnley boss Scott Parker has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Brighton at Turf Moor (kick-off 15:00 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
The Burnley boss said the break has been good for everyone at the club: "It has been a long period, probably the longest that I've ever experienced. We had some downtime, gave the players some downtime, certainly after the Fulham game just to recuperate for many reasons – physically and mentally – and then we’ve worked pretty tough over the past couple of weeks. It has been a good period for all of us.”
Parker feels it was a "massive achievement" for Axel Tuanzebe to score the goal that secured World Cup qualification for DR Congo. He added: "I've seen the adulation he's got since he's got back, rightly so."
He hopes Tuanzebe is fit to face Brighton: "He's not played a lot of football, obviously, and he's gone away and played 120 minutes. So he's come back in late as well so we'll see."
Parker said Mike Tresor has "progressed more now, [but will need] a few more weeks training" and that Zeki Amdouni is back with them on the grass "albeit a bit modified". He also confirmed Jordan Beyer and Connor Roberts will still be a "little way off", while Hannibal Mejbri is probably a couple of weeks away, however, his issue is "not as bad" as they initially thought.
The Burnley boss acknowledged they can't deny the challenge ahead is beginning to change with seven games of the season to go: "The longer you go on, every game that skips away that you don't manage to pick up those points, that challenge becomes much bigger."
Parker insisted he has "pure focus" and looking at what might happen is a "drainer". He added: "It can only bring more doubt and you're certainly not going to get the best version [of yourselves]."
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