Football Season Guide

Burnley enjoyed a successful campaign in their return to the Premier League last season, managing to secure their safety from relegation with a few games to spare thanks largely to an excellent record at Turf Moor. Sean Dyche would have been happy with the overall performances last season but having seen teams around them strengthening by spending big during the transfer window, the Burnley coach will be aware that his side are up against another tough fight if they are to extend their stay in the top flight for another season. Burnley will be kicking the new season off without their standout player from the last campaign after the club accepted a bid from Everton for Michael Keane. Dyche has not yet signed any direct replacements for Keane so it looks as if Kevin Long and James Tarkowski will be fighting it out for a place alongside Ben Mee in the centre of the defence. Joey Barton has been released after the midfielder was banned by the FA while George Boyd has also left the club with Burnley deciding not to renew his contract, leaving the squad a bit short in terms of Premier League experience. Dyche has tried to compensate by bringing in Swansea City midfielder Jack Cork while Jonathan Walters and Phil Bardsley represent solid business so far in the summer for Burnley. Dyche has been tinkering with the lineup and the formation during pre-season but is unlikely to change too much once the Premier League kicks off. However, he will be aware that his side will have to score more goals in order to enjoy another comfortable season, with Burnley having ended the last campaign with the lowest goals tally among the teams who stayed out of the relegation zone.