Burnley provide update on Lyle Foster

Burnley have released a statement on behalf of Lyle Foster saying the striker is in the care of specialists after he told the club he is having issues with his mental health. 

The 23-year-old South African striker joined Burnley this summer and has scored three goals and provided two assists in seven Premier League matches, recently signing a new five-year contract.

A Burnley statement said: "On behalf of Lyle Foster and his family they have asked us to share with you an update on Lyle's illness.

"Recently, Lyle let us know that he continues to live with issues around his mental well-being and has reached out for help. He is currently in the care of specialists - giving him the support and care he needs to help him back to full health.

"With the love and support of his family and everyone at Burnley Football Club we will do all we can to provide everything he needs to get better.

"We ask for your understanding and respect Lyle's privacy around this matter and will not be making any more comment until further notice."

'Put the human first'

As Burnley prepare to visit Arsenal on Saturday, manager Vincent Kompany added: "We were very fortunate that Lyle had been very open with us, and from the moment he had been open with us we were able to act.

"[As] soon as he said it, soon as he showed signs how severe it was for him, straight away the entire support team within the club just mobilised and we made sure he could focus on his own recovery.

"I think in moments like this you have to put the human first, and I think that's what we did."

If you've been affected by this story and want to speak to someone about your mental health, Shout offers a free, confidential 24/7 text support service for anyone in the UK who is struggling to cope. The service was launched in 2019 and has since helped hundreds of thousands of people.

See: Premier League's Stay Well Hub