SM
Bournemouth vs. West Ham: 8 hrs 49 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 - 2020-02-27 16:34:14 :

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
1Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd21145230111945
2Leeds UnitedLeeds21126337152242
3Burnley2111822681841
4Sunderland21117332171540
5Blackburn RoversBlackburn2011452517837
6Middlesbrough21104735251034
7Watford2010462926334
8West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom2171132416832
9Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds218582630-429
10Swansea CitySwansea217682322127
11Bristol City216962626027
12Norwich CityNorwich216873632426
13Millwall206772018225
14Derby CountyDerby216692626024
15Coventry CityCoventry216692730-324
16Preston North EndPreston2141162127-623
17Stoke CityStoke215792328-522
18Queens Park RangersQPR2141072127-622
19Luton TownLuton2164112337-1422
20Oxford UnitedOxford Utd2046102133-1218
21Cardiff CityCardiff2046101932-1318
22Portsmouth193882134-1317
23Plymouth ArgylePlymouth2045111942-2317
24Hull City2137111930-1116
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.



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