Football Season Guide

Just over an year after Burnley won admirers for sticking to their principles as they valiantly fought against relegation from the Premier League, Sean Dyche's side are back in big time and will be hoping for a more successful campaign this time around. Despite a slow start to their campaign last season, Burnley hit top form at the right moment of time and finished top of the pile in the Championship, securing their first major silverware since winning the League Two title more than two decades ago. Dyche has enjoyed a successful reign at Turf Moor since taking over from Eddie Howe back in 2012, leading Burnley to a second promotion in three years. Burnley will be heading into the new campaign with the added experience of knowing what it will take to survive in the Premier League and while Dyche will be looking to better the 19th placed finish from their last campaign, the Burnley coach will have to pull some rabbits out of his hat if they are to avoid relegation. While majority of the teams have spent a busy summer in the transfer market, Burnley have once again failed to strengthen their team after securing promotion. While there have not been wholesale departures compared to fellow promoted side Hull City, Burnley will be missing the presence of Joey Barton after the midfielder played a key role in their promotion bid last season. Matthew Taylor provided some much needed depth for Dyche, making majority of his 27 appearances last season from the bench but has since moved on after his contract expired while Michael Duff has taken over a role in the backroom. Burnley have so far brought in just Johann Berg Gudmundsson and Nick Pope and there are still question marks as to whether the duo have the ability to play in the Premier League with the duo part of the Charlton Athletic side that were relegated from the Championship last season. Jon Flanagan has also arrived on loan from Liverpool but Dyche admitted that his side need to recruit before the transfer window shuts down if they are to ensure a far more comfortable campaign this time around. Burnley did make a couple of astute buys last season, with Andre Gray their biggest success story as the striker top scored in the Championship with 25 goals but the lack of Premier League experience in the squad means that Burnley fans are staring at another long season in the top flight.