Sean Dyche Burnley
Sean Dyche believes Burnley are in good shape with the countdown on to the new season as Chris Wood returns to the fold. Wood’s New Zealand exited the Tokyo Olympics with a penalty shoot-out defeat in the quarter-finals against the hosts. He is now on his way back to Barnfield, and with Matej Vydra playing the final half an hour of Saturday’s 2-1 win behind-closed-doors at Tranmere, Dyche’s options in the final third are increasing ahead of the season opener against Brighton on August 14. Work is also continuing in a bid to bring fresh faces in, RB Leipzig winger Ademola Lookman the latest player linked after spending last season on loan at Fulham.
Sean Dyche said: “There are a couple of games coming up so we will see how the squad looks after that. Woody is coming back – unfortunately for Woody. It’s shame for him and for them but good for us, in a way. He comes back and will be able to re-acclimatise and get a bit of recovery before he joins in with us. I am pretty pleased and the main thing is – so far – we are injury-free. Everyone is fit and well at the moment and long may that continue, of course.Then if we can reinforce the squad as well, we’d like to think we are growing into pre-season so that when the real stuff starts we’re ready.”
With a behind-closed-doors game and a Turf Moor friendly with La Liga side Cadiz to come, Dyche saw Ashley Barnes and Dwight McNeil get the goals at Prenton Park against Micky Mellon’s League Two side.
Sean Dyche said: “They are a decent outfit and pushed us hard, which was good for us so we feel like we benefited from this. I thought the general performance was good. I liked the tempo about the play, the energy and I thought there was a nice edge to it, so I was pleased overall. We are still in the market to support the group where we can but when we’re fit and well I’ve always said it, I think we’ve got a good outfit.”
