Burnley striker Lyle Foster will face a spell on the sidelines due to a recurrence of a mental health issue, the Premier League club announced on Thursday.
The 23-year-old first revealed his battle with depression in July and has once again reached out to the club again for support.
Speaking back in July, Foster mentioned his mental battle after leaving South Africa to pursue a career in Europe.
“I was in my apartment all by myself. I realised I just felt this huge sense of loneliness,” he said.
“I felt like I couldn’t really express myself with all of my team-mates. It was a lot more difficult to be around them and do things footballers are supposed to do.
“I just used to try and go to training, play games and honestly the best thing to do at that time of my life was to go back home and sleep. There was no real excitement or looking forward to anything.”
“That’s when I realised I was in some trouble and I panicked a little bit. I didn’t know what was going on or how to deal with it because it was the first time I was in a position like that.”
Foster, who has scored three goals alongside two assists this season, is facing another relapse of the issue and is now set for sometime off the pitch, as revealed by Burnley.
Burnley issue worrying Lyle Foster update
In a statement posted on Thursday afternoon, Burnley posted via their official website and their social channels.
— Burnley FC (@BurnleyOfficial) November 9, 2023
“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.”
Kompany comments on Lyle Foster struggles, speaks on potential return date
Reacting to the latest update by the club, Burnley boss Vincent Kompany said about the matter: “Lyle has been having issues with his mental wellbeing and as a club we’ve very quickly, very naturally made a decision to support him, support his family and offer him access to all the expertise and clinical support he needs”.
“At the moment for him, we’re wishing him a speedy recovery and we’re wishing him to be in a better place for when he’s ready to come back to us.”
He added: “We’re 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.”
Asked when Foster could return to action, Kompany responded: “I can’t make those assumptions, I don’t know,”.
“At this moment in time he needs support and he needs to be with people who understand how to help him.”
This article was most recently revised and updated 11 months ago
