SM
Man Utd vs. Newcastle: 10 hrs 50 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
NL
Premier League | Gameweek 28
Feb 29, 2020 at 3pm UK
 
BL

0-0

 
FT

Sean Dyche pleased with striking options as Chris Wood returns

:Headline: Sean Dyche pleased with striking options as Chris Wood returns: ID:391081: from db_amp
Top goalscorer Chris Wood is back in contention but Matej Vydra and Rodriguez are in good touch.

Burnley boss Sean Dyche faces a selection dilemma for Saturday's Premier League game at Newcastle after confirming striker Chris Wood is fit again.

Wood, who is the club's top goalscorer this season, missed last week's home win against Bournemouth due to a hamstring strain and in his absence Matej Vydra struck his second goal in as many matches.

"Wood is certainly fit, so he comes back into the thinking," Dyche said. "But Vyds and Jay-Rod (Jay Rodriguez) in the last couple of games have certainly laid down a marker."

Wood has scored 10 league goals this season, while Vydra made his first Premier League start since November 2018 against Bournemouth.

Fellow striker Ashley Barnes is working his way back from a hernia operation.

Dyche also confirmed that midfielder Johann Berg Gudmundsson, who has been sidelined with a hamstring injury, has suffered a minor setback in his recovery and will not feature at St James' Park.

Defender Matthew Lowton (knee) is closing in on his return but will not be included in the squad this weekend.

Burnley's victory last weekend was their fourth in five unbeaten Premier League matches, a run which has lifted them up to 10th place in the table.

Dyche admitted his players' form, following a run of four straight league defeats last month, has given him plenty to ponder.

"It helps with your thoughts when the team are not just winning, winning's obviously very important, but it's also if they're performing," he said.

"I think we weren't as good in the first half last week, but we were very strong second half.

"Generally the team's been performing well and it does help somewhat when you're thinking of picking your side."

Burnley's current form has rekindled fans' hopes of a repeat of their seventh-placed finish in the 2017-18 season and Europa League qualification.

But Dyche added: "We weren't too worried about chasing that last time and we're not now.

"We're constantly assessing where we're at. The first goal is always the ongoing journey in the Premier League, that's obvious for us and a number of other teams.

"Once we're secure with that – and that's the main focus of course –  then you reorganise your thoughts with your group.

"But we've certainly got to get the first job done first, which is to keep winning, keep performing and get as many points on the board as we can."

amp_article__391081 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2020-02-27 16:34:14:
html db last update - 2021-02-24 02:56:36 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html

Click here for more stories about Chris Wood

Click here for more stories about Burnley

Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City37277393336088
2Arsenal37275589286186
3Liverpool372310484414379
4Aston Villa37208976562068
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs371961271611063
6Newcastle UnitedNewcastle361761379572257
7Chelsea361691173611257
8Manchester UnitedMan Utd36166145256-454
9West Ham UnitedWest Ham371410135971-1252
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton361212125458-448
11Bournemouth37139155365-1248
12Crystal Palace371210155258-646
13Wolverhampton WanderersWolves37137175063-1346
14Fulham37128175159-844
15Everton37139153949-1040
16Brentford37109185461-739
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3789204766-1929
18Luton TownLuton3768235081-3126
RBurnley3759234076-3624
RSheffield UnitedSheff Utd37372735101-6616
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .