Two ambitious strikers will dominate proceedings when Burnley welcome West Bromwich Albion to Turf Moor on Sunday.
Saido Berahino bagged a brace in the reverse fixture as the Baggies ran out 4-0 winners at the Hawthorns, but this time Danny Ings and the Clarets will be eyeing a different result in their own backyard.
Berahino exasperated the Baggies’ hierarchy this week with another off-field controversy after he gave an unauthorised interview in which he talked of his desire to “move on to bigger things”. West Brom are reportedly ready to listen to offers for their top goalscorer, whom they feel cannot keep his head down.
Burnley’s top goalscorer, Ings, is another young forward who has attracted interest from bigger Premier League clubs and David Moyes’ Real Sociedad after enjoying a meteoric rise over the last 18 months.
Ings may have a better relationship with his club but he is equally ambitious and Sean Dyche had to admit after the defeat to Sunderland that his prized striker’s head had been turned by interest from top clubs after Ings produced a lacklustre performance before being subbed at the Stadium of Light.
His contract expires in the summer but he will be desperate to add to his impressive goal return with the aim of a win-win ending to the season, which would see Burnley survive the drop while he parts for a bigger move on good terms with the Clarets.
There is little to separate these sides in terms of form and league positions as Tony Pulis’ side are 15th in the table, two points and two places above Dyche’s men which means a win for the Clarets would push them above the Baggies.
Burnley team news
- Stephen Ward (ankle), Kevin Long (knee) and Matthew Taylor (calf) remain sidelined for Burnley.
West Brom team news
- Jonas Olsson is stepping up his recovery from foot surgery but this weekend’s game may come too soon for the defender who last played four months ago after losing his place before an operation to ease an achilles problem.
- Youssouf Mulumbu sustained a hamstring injury during Congo’s African Cup of Nations campaign and is likely to miss the trip to Turf Moor.
- Boaz Myhill is still recovering from a finger injury sustained in the FA Cup win at Birmingham City last month.
Burnley vs West Brom prediction
Sam Vokes is pushing for a start but Dyche usually opts for consistency in his starting XI so he may retain the side that lost at Sunderland, with Ashley Barnes floating behind Ings while Scott Arfield and George Boyd operate as the wide midfielders in a 4-4-2 formation.
January deadline day signing Darren Fletcher may not be involved from the start for the Baggies as he might not be fully match fit, so Claudio Yacob and Craig Gardner could start as central midfielders, while Berahino partners Victor Anichebe in what could be a 4-4-2 formation for West Brom as well.
Burnley have recently been a formidable outfit at Turf Moor despite suffering a 2-3 loss to Crystal Palace in their last home game so while they may not dominate the game, Dyche’s men could have just enough to secure a narrow win.
