Pre-Season Preview – Burnley

Sean Dyche leads his Burnley charges into the 2019/20 English Premier League campaign, once again hoping his tried and trusted methods will see his side compete admirably against much bigger clubs.

The Clarets are renowned for being a hard working, industrious outfit which is, perhaps, a unit which is much stronger than the sum of its parts.

With the choice between Nick Pope and Joe Hart in goal, Burnley have been indebted to wholehearted defenders Ben Mee, James Tarkowski and Phil Bardsley for many seasons now.

Box to box midfielders Jack Cork, Jeff Hendrick, and Ashley Westwood are great examples of what manager Dyche expects from his engine room, while wingers Robbie Brady, Aaron Lennon, Johann Gudmundsson and Dwight McNeil have provided the ammunition for the physical threats of Chris Wood and last seasons top scorer Ashley Barnes (12 goals).

Transfers

As well as a few youngsters and fringe players returning from loan spells, Burnley’s squad has been boosted by the additions of rugged and experienced Premier League players Erik Pieters (£1m from Stoke City) and striker Jay Rodriguez, who returns to his hometown club from West Bromwich Albion for £5m.

Young Northern Ireland international goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell has also joined from Leeds United for a fee in the region of £2.5m.

Departures include long serving goalkeeper Tom Heaton who has joined Aston Villa for £8m, while fellow goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard, left-back Stephen Ward, Aiden O’Neill and Ntumbu Massanka have all left the club on a free transfer.

Striker Peter Crouch has also left the club after calling time on his 21 year career.

Fixtures

Burnley kick off their season at home, with Southampton making the trip north. This is followed by two difficult looking away fixtures at Arsenal and Wolves before European champions Liverpool head to Turf Moor. The Clarets will then be looking to pick up points as they head to Brighton and host Norwich.

Manager

Sean Dyche told burnleyfootballclub.com he believes his side are now in great condition and ready to go after a gruelling pre-season schedule:

Targets

Burnley are a well structured club that know their limitations and live within their means. Without the huge resources of others, Burnley’s primary aim will be to guarantee their survival in the top flight.

That said, the club have consolidated their Premier League place fairly comfortably for a few seasons now and have a clear identity under manager Sean Dyche. His experience and know how, together with that of his squad of players, should be enough to see The Clarets finish in or around midtable.

Expected starting XI

Pope, Bardsley, Mee, Tarkowski, Taylor, Lennon, Cork, Hendrick, Brady, Wood, Barnes