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Clarets boss looking forward to busy month of football

2024-12-04T16:50:50.606Z

PARKER RELISHING 'BIG CHALLENGE AHEAD'

Clarets boss looking forward to busy month of football

2024-12-04T16:50:50.606Z

Clarets boss looking forward to busy month of football

Ahead of Friday night's Sky Bet Championship clash with Middlesbrough, Head Coach Scott Parker described the upcoming busy month of football as a 'big challenge' for his side, but a challenge he and his team are looking forward to.

The Clarets kickstart their busy month on Friday evening when Boro travel to Turf Moor, with the Clarets set to play a further five games across December after this weekend and Parker is excited by the schedule and the test it brings for his squad.

Speaking to the media on Wednesday afternoon, Parker said: "It's a big challenge ahead of us. There's some really tough games, coming up against some great opposition, but we're looking forward to it.

"It starts this Friday with Middlesbrough, then it's a quick turnaround for Tuesday night against Derby, but it brings the best out of you in these periods.

"The games come thick and fast over Christmas, everyone is aware of the schedule this month and what we face, but it's exciting, then around the New Year you get a clearer idea of where we sit."

MATCH PREVIEW: BURNLEY V MIDDLESBROUGH - Image 6

Friday night will see two of the league's most in-form sides come together in East Lancashire, with the Clarets heading into it with four straight wins and five clean sheets and Boro winning four of their last five league fixtures, scoring 18 goals in those games.

Parker is expecting a tough evening against the Teessiders: "They're a really well structured side, a very good attacking team that can cause lots of problems and we'll need to be at our best.

"We're well aware of their threats and how they have hurt teams, but it's about also looking at us and where we can impose ourselves on the game too."

Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick is a man Parker knows well from his playing career and the Clarets boss had high praise for the former Manchester United midfielder.