Clarets Hopeful Wingers Can Add Cutting Edge Against Blades

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2020-12-28T22:32:31.318Z

Clarets Hopeful Wingers Can Add Cutting Edge Against Blades

2020-12-28T22:32:31.318Z

Burnley could welcome back wide men Dwight McNeil and Robbie Brady for Tuesday’s Turf Moor clash with Sheffield United.

The wingers both missed the defeat to Leeds united after picking up minor injuries in the victory over Wolves.

But Sean Dyche is hopeful that a few days extra recovery time will allow the creative duo to resume against the rock-bottom Blades.

We've Got Good Players - Dyche - Image 1

Clarets Hopeful Wingers Can Add Cutting Edge Against Blades - Image 2

“With the two games in three days we had to make a judgement call,” explained the Burnley boss.

“We think they both have a chance, but we just felt the fatigue element of two games and what it might do, when you are coming out of a minor injury, we just had to make a decision.”

The Clarets will still be without Matej Vydra, Jack Cork and Johann Berg Gudmundsson for the curtain call to 2020.

Vydra misses out with a back injury, while Cork is still building up fitness following a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

And the Clarets have opted to take Gudmundsson out of the firing line following a string of setbacks for the Icelandic international.

Clarets Hopeful Wingers Can Add Cutting Edge Against Blades - Image 3

Dyche explained: “Johann is just getting back to that freedom to go and play. He’s had so many niggly injuries that we have deliberately made a decision to take him away from it, to allow him more training time.

“He’s getting more game time in the reserve games until the time when he can just run out there and have that mental freedom to know his body is 100% and he can play free-flowing, just sprint, recover and all the things the game needs.”

United head to Turf Moor still seeking that elusive first league win of the season, having taken just two points from their opening 15 games.

But Dyche feels the Blades are a dangerous proposition, after making such a big impression on the Premier League last season.

Clarets Hopeful Wingers Can Add Cutting Edge Against Blades - Image 4

“I think their points has to be a false representation, based on last season,” he explained.

“They were deservedly given so many plaudits last season because ninth place in the Premier League is some finish.

“You are never quite sure what the next season will bring until it happens. Trying to find a way to make it work at both ends of the pitch is every manager’s challenge and they haven’t quite got on the right side of those margins this season.

"But Chris (Wilder) is a fella who I respect a lot and someone I regard as a friend in football, and they are still working and fighting – because I have seen them.

“We are never naïve enough to not respect teams and we’ll certainly respect Sheffield United.”

Dyche added: “I’m not going to start throwing words like sympathy about because that’s not for football managers, in my opinion.

“Empathy and understanding are different things, but Chris doesn’t want my sympathy, I can assure you.

“However, I certainly understand some of the challenges and he will bring his team to our place and want his team to win, so friendship will go out of the window for 90 minutes.”

Clarets+ has live commentary from Turf Moor on Tuesday from 5.45pm.