McNeil Aims For Treble Top

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Confidence high in the Clarets camp as they look to extend winning run

2021-01-29T17:02:11.889Z

McNeil Aims For Treble Top

Confidence high in the Clarets camp as they look to extend winning run

2021-01-29T17:02:11.889Z

Confidence high in the Clarets camp as they look to extend winning run

Dwight McNeil is delighted to be back in the groove as he looks to help the Clarets chase a notable hat-trick at Stamford Bridge.

McNeil’s first goal of the season and a sumptuous cross for Chris Wood’s winner – the first time the winger has produced a goal and an assist in a Premier League game – helped the Clarets twice come from behind to beat Aston Villa in mid-week.

That gave Sean Dyche’s men a third successive win after beating Liverpool and knocking Fulham out of the FA Cup.

And Burnley now head to Chelsea on Sunday looking to make it three top-flight wins in a row for the first time since April, 2019 and secure a third away success of the season after previous wins at Anfield and Arsenal.

“We’re on 22 points and going along nicely. We’re heading in the right direction,” said McNeil, whose contribution against Villa lifted the 15th-placed Clarets nine points clear of the Premier League’s bottom three.

“You’ve got to be careful of what’s behind you but we’re always looking up because we want to move forward as a team.

“We know it will be a hard game. They’ve got a new manager and it will be like a fresh start for them, especially going into the second half of the season.

“But we’ve got to focus on ourselves. We’ve won at hard grounds before, so we’ve got that confidence going into it.

“We know it’s a different test for us, especially with a new manager, but we are looking forward to it.

“We’ve got to look at our strengths and how we can exploit them and think about us because we’re going into the game off three wins in all competitions, so we’ve got all the confidence there within the group.

“You never know what could happen again on Sunday because it’s been a strange season.”

McNeil’s return to the starting line-up has coincided with the Clarets’ winning streak ahead of the trip to Chelsea, where new boss Thomas Tuchel will take charge of his second game as the Blues’ boss following the departure of Frank Lampard.

After a spell out injured and two appearances from the bench, the 21-year-old looks right back on top of his game.

And as well as adding to his own goal tally, McNeil is looking to keep providing the ammunition for the Clarets’ front men.

“It’s been frustrating for me this season not impacting games as much as I’d like,” he admitted.

“But the other night, getting a goal and an assist, has given me that extra bit of confidence and I’m happy for Woody to have got another goal.

“He deserved his goal and another headed goal, so I know he’s happy with it.

“We play with two strikers so there’s always that aim to keep putting balls in the box.

“You’ve got two strikers who want to score goals and will get in there for you.

“They know you’ll put the ball in and you know they’ve got a good chance of scoring from them, so I have that bit of freedom to be that old fashioned-type winger and that’s what they thrive off.”