An injured Burnley player makes his long-awaited comeback after being out for six months

Darko Churlinov of Burnley made his much anticipated comeback to competitive play over the weekend.

On Saturday, the winger played 45 minutes of football for North Macedonia, who lost to Ukraine 2-0 in a Euro 2024 qualifying match.

The 23-year-old’s previous appearance came for the Clarets in their goalless draw away to Reading in April, marking his first outing in six months.

Due to a significant health scare that occurred during the summer when he was hospitalized with probable blood poisoning, Churlinov has not played in any games.

However, the Burnley player is currently back in training with the first squad and will be trying to reclaim Vincent Kompany’s spot.

Churlinov, who may also represent North Macedonia against Armenia on Tuesday night, has since been added to Burnley’s 25-man Premier League roster after initially being left out in favor of Samuel Bastien.

However, Churlinov, who has yet to appear in a match-day squad this season, was brought back in to fill the final position after Bastien’s loan departure to Turkey.

At the end of August, Kompany spoke about Churlinov’s struggle to regain his full health.

“It’s really, really positive,” he exclaimed.

“We were prepared for the worst in terms of a lengthy absence from the field, but his comeback has been almost amazing.

“I can’t tell you when it will happen, but if things continue as they are, he will recover his full fitness.

I’m hoping I’ll be able to change my response by the time you ask the same question next month.