Nick Pope injured as Burnley draw at Aberdeen in Europa League opener

Ian Rutherford/PA Wire

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Sam Vokes scored a late away goal to give Burnley a 1-1 draw at Aberdeen in the Europa League on Thursday, but the Clarets will be worried by an injury that put goalkeeper Nick Pope in hospital.

Aberdeen had given Burnley a rough welcome back to European football in the 19th minute through Gary Mackay-Steven's penalty. But Burnley, playing in their first European game in 51 years, equalised with 10 minutes left when Vokes flicked the ball into the roof of the net.

Pope suffered a blow to his shoulder in the early stages and was taken to hospital after a challenge from Lewis Ferguson.

Burnley manager Sean Dyche was not optimistic that the England World Cup squad member would be fit for next week's return leg.

"He's gone to hospital. At this stage it looks more serious than not serious," Dyche said.

The scoreline, with the potentially crucial away goal, gives Sean Dyche's Premier League side the upper hand for next Thursday's return leg at Turf Moor, but for the travelling supporters the game was about much more than the result.

Over 2,000 Burnley fans made the 330-mile trip from Lancashire to the East Coast of Scotland, packing the away section in the stadium, with a large number of supporters left without tickets in the bars in the centre of the city.

Given Burnley's history in the decades since their last European game -- in the Fairs Cup in 1967 -- it was the Scottish club who could claim the greater pedigree.

Sam Cosgrove won the penalty that was converted in the 19th minute by Mackay-Steven after Pope's injury.

But it was a Welshman who proved the decisive figure in the Anglo-Scottish clash, substitute Vokes showing skill and composure, as well as his aerial strength, to equalise 10 minutes from the end.

Vokes became the first Burnley player to score in Europe since Brian Miller netted against Eintracht Frankfurt in 1967 and his goal makes Dyche's side favourites to progress into the third qualifying round.

Burnley will host Aberdeen in the return leg of the second qualifying round on Aug. 2, with the winners traveling to Turkey to face Istanbul Basaksehir in the third round the following week.

"I won't take anything away from Aberdeen who made it a proper game, both sets of fans were excellent, the atmosphere was great and it felt like a real match," Dyche said. "We don't think it's a done deal. We are not a team that takes anything for granted. We will have to work for everything."