Vincent Kompany confirms Burnley star will not leave in January

According to manager Vincent Kompany, Burnley striker Lyle Foster is “making progress” but is “not in a position” to join South Africa for the Africa Cup of Nations.

Foster, 23, was nominated to a preliminary 50-man roster for the event, which begins next month in the Ivory Coast.

He has been on leave since November 9 due to a return of a mental health issue.

“Physically, he’s in good shape, and it appears that we’ve made progress,” Kompany told BBC Sport.

Foster reached out to the club for help last month, and he has since been under the supervision of specialists, according to the club.

Burnley host Everton in the Premier League on Saturday but no timeframe has been put on Foster’s first-team return.

Foster has 14 caps for his country, scoring four goals, three of which have come this year.

When asked if he was shocked by Foster’s inclusion in South Africa’s squad by manager Hugo Broos, Kompany responded, “Unfortunately, he is not in a position where he can go to the national team at the moment.” He simply cannot.

“It’s not something he can do right now, going away for an extended period of time and being in a completely different environment.”

“His love for his country knows no bounds, and his desire to succeed knows no bounds, but that would contradict the advice of every expert who has been assisting him in recent months.”

“Conversations are ongoing, but it is difficult for him to manage and for me to manage because I am an African-American coach.” Afcon is really essential. I am very happy of any of our players who are representing us there because that competition is as important as the Euros.

“For his specific conditions, the human being we have treated in the last month, he is not at a stage where he can do any of that.” Hopefully, in the future, he will be able to do a lot more for everyone on the large stage, but step by step.”

The Africa Cup of Nations begins on January 13, with the final on February 11.

 

 

Foster spoke about his depression in July, and the club issued a statement “on behalf of Lyle Foster and his family” last month, saying he “continues to live with issues surrounding his mental wellbeing and has reached out for help.”

Speaking up about mental health is no longer a taboo, according to Kompany, who claimed Foster was at a “breaking point” when he sought and received help.

Foster has three goals and two assists for Burnley this season, and he last appeared in the team’s 3-0 loss at Brentford on October 21.

“Lyle is making progress,” Kompany added. We are still monitoring it closely, and he is still undergoing therapy, but we have been lucky to be able to work with him on the fitness front.

“His progress is what you would want it to be in terms of his mental health and physically he is in a good place as well.”

When asked if Foster was back on the training ground, Kompany said, “It started elsewhere, and we are progressing into the next phase.”