Huddersfield Town will be embarking on one of the shortest away journeys of the 2017/18 Premier League campaign, as the Terriers make the 26mile trip to Lancashire to face Burnley in their sixth game of the season.
David Wagner’s side will be looking for a positive result having drawn 1-1 with Leicester City last weekend and crashed out of the Carabao Cup at Crystal Palace in the week; losing 1-0 to a goal from Bakary Sako.
THE OPPONENT
The Clarets defeated reigning champions Chelsea, 3-2 in their opening game of the Premier League campaign. Two Sam Vokes goals’ either side of a thunderbolt from Stephen Ward were enough to secure the victory at Stamford Bridge.
Burnley then suffered their first defeat in the second game of the season, as a goal from Wales international – Hal Robson-Kanu – was enough to see West Brom run out victorious by the single goal at Turf Moor.
Sean Dyches’ side currently sit in 7th position – one place behind Huddersfield – having accumulated eight points from their opening five games. In their last Premier League game, Burnley drew 1-1 with Liverpool at Anfield; extending their consecutive unbeaten away record to three games this season.
This season will be the second consecutive year of Premier League football for the Clarets, having initially secured promotion from the Championship in the 2015/16 season, finishing top of the league on 93 points - four ahead of second placed Middlesbrough.
Last season, Sean Dyche guided his team to survival in their first season back in the top-flight, finishing 16th and accumulating fourty points from their 38 games.
Dyche is only surpassed by Arsene Wenger and Eddie Howe as the current longest-serving Premier League manager, as his reign as Burnley manager will enter its fifth year at end of October. Within that time, Dyche has led the Club to two Premier League promotions with his first coming in the 2013/14 season.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Club-record signing Chris Wood has already netted twice for his new side this season, having joined the Clarets as top goal scorer in the Championship last season with 27 goals. The Kiwi international joined Burnley from Yorkshire rivals - Leeds United - for a fee reported to be around £15million.
Robbie Brady joined the Clarets in January 2016, assisting two goals and scoring once in the 14 appearances he made during the remainder of that season. The midfielder converted an injury-time equaliser from a free kick during his sides’ eventual penalty-shootout defeat to Leeds United in the week.
Following his transfer to Burnley in 2016, Steven Defour has made 26 appearances for the Club having initially signed from Belgian side, Anderlecht. The 29-year-old has made five Premier League appearances this season, playing an integral role in the five-man midfield that Burnley operate with.
NEW SIGNINGS
Burnley completed deals for seven new players during the summer transfer window, of which included the signing of Chris Wood from Leeds United for a club record fee.
The Clarets also completed the signing of Bermudan international Nahki Wells from Huddersfield Town on transfer deadline day. Both Phil Bardsley and Jon Walters joined from Stoke City during the window, whilst Charlie Taylor joined from Leeds United. Jack Cork signed from Swansea City and goalkeeper Adam Legzdins joined from Birmingham City.
Burnley lost four players in the summer including defender Micheal Keane who left for a reported £30million fee to Everton. Striker Andre Gray signed for Watford whilst winger George Boyd joined Sheffield Wednesday on a free transfer. The fourth and final departure saw veteran goalkeeper Paul Robinson retire from professional football.
BURNLEY’S LAST STARTING XI (4-5-1):
GK: Nick Pope
DL: Stephen Ward
DC: Ben Mee
DC: James Tarkowski
DR: Matt Lowton
LM: Scott Arfield
CM: Jack Cork
CM: Stevan Defour
CM: Robbie Brady
RM: Jóhann Berg Guðmundsson
FW: Sam Vokes
TEAM NEWS - TOWN
Jonathan Hogg and Martin Cranie both made their first starts of the season in Town’s Carabao Cup defeat to Crystal Palace in the week and could be involved on Saturday. Rob Green could also be called upon having been cup tied for Tuesday’s game.
David Wagner revealed that Danny Williams received a knock on his foot in the game against Leicester City; which will be further investigated ahead of Saturday’s game. Town will also have to wait on the availability of Steve Mounié who missed both the Leicester City and Crystal Palace games with an injury to his heel.
Kasey Palmer (Hamstring) and Jon Gorenc Stanković (ACL) will both be unavailable on Saturday due to their respective injuries.
TEAM NEWS – BURNLEY
The Clarets will be monitoring a potential injury to Ashley Westwood sustained in his sides Third Round cup exit to Leeds United on Tuesday evening. The midfielder was taken off in extra time – becoming the Club’s first ever fourth substitute following the introduction of the new rule for Cup games this season – with Sean Dyche stating that the sub was made as a precautionary measure to ensure no further damage was sustained.
Tom Heaton is also likely to miss the game having undergone surgery on the shoulder injury he picked up in Burnley’s 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace a fortnight ago.
KIT
Huddersfield Town will wear the blue and white striped home kit for this Saturday’s trip to Turf Moor.
TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets for this game are sold out, but supporters are still able to purchase travel with tickets currently available to priority one and two supporters from HERE!
#HTTV
If you didn’t manage to get a ticket and would like to listen to the game, you can receive full match commentary provided by BBC Radio Leeds via #HTTV+; click here to subscribe now!
