Burnley attacker will hope to send message to Scott Parker on Wednesday: View | OneFootball

Jeremy Sarmiento could force his way into Scott Parker's side by impressing with Ecuador

Jeremy Sarmiento evidently has a point to prove at Burnley and international duty with Ecuador may just provide the opportunity to show his worth to Scott Parker.

The Ecuadorian winger joined Scott Parker's side on loan from Brighton and Hove Albion during the summer transfer window, having spent the previous campaign with both West Bromwich Albion and Ipswich Town.

Sarmiento, who played a role in the Tractor Boys' improbable promotion by scoring three goals from 20 appearances, had appeared to represent an inspired piece of business for Burnley at the time. The Clarets have enjoyed an impressive start to the 2024/25 Championship campaign, winning five of their opening nine matches and losing just once.

Widely tipped to compete at the top-end prior to the season's introduction, Burnley already appear every bit capable of realising those ambitions and staking a serious claim to return to the Premier League at the first time of asking under promotion specialist Parker, who has guided both Fulham and Bournemouth out of the Championship in years gone by.

Jeremy Sarmiento's start to the 24/25 season with Burnley

Due to Burnley's strong early-season form, Sarmiento has found it hard to force his way into Parker's starting side.

Luca Koleosho and Jaidon Anthony, the latter of whom was a favourite under Parker at Bournemouth, have both been preferred on the flanks thus far, leaving Sarmiento to deputise in more of a bit-part role.

He has been utilised as an impact substitute at Turf Moor, with five of his six Championship appearances so far this season coming from the bench. One of those, of course, came against Portsmouth last month, where Sarmiento scored just two minutes after coming on to begin his side's dramatic late comeback over the newly promoted outfit.

The 22-year-old earned his first and only start to date off the back of his strong cameo against Pompey by starting from the left-hand side during Burnley's trip to Oxford United the following weekend, although he failed to have a real impact and was substituted with 20 minutes to spare as his side played out a 0-0 stalemate.

Sarmiento was used sparingly in Burnley's two subsequent matches before the international break. He played just 25 minutes across two games against Plymouth Argyle and Preston North End, bringing his total minutes tally up to 168 over six appearances.

The Brighton loanee will want to become more involved in Parker's plans moving forward, and the current international break might afford him a timely opportunity to show his worth and potentially force himself back into the starting eleven.

Jeremy Sarmiento can send Scott Parker, Burnley message with Ecuador

22-cap international Sarmiento is currently away on international duty with the Ecuador national team.

Ecuador are competing for a place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup and are fifth in the table after nine qualifying matches. They were forced to settle for a point against Paraguay on Thursday, with Sarmiento appearing as a second-half substitute, so all three points will be firmly on the wishlist for Wednesday's trip to Uruguay.

Marcelo Bielsa's side are currently in third place, but they are only separated from Ecuador by three points. They still have a vastly superior goal difference, but Ecuador could close the gap over a team who they defeated just over a year ago in qualifying - and Sarmiento will be looking to make his mark.

Uruguay have seldom been pushovers in the international game and with good reason. There has been a changing of the guard for La Caleste in recent times, although their squad still has real quality in the likes of Darwin Nunez, Federico Valverde and Rodrigo Bentancur.

Likewise for Ecuador, mind, who have enjoyed a real upturn in fortunes as of late and can now hold their own at international level, counting stars such as Moises Caicedo, Willian Pacho, Piero Hincapie and 17-year-old prodigy Kendry Paez among their squad.

You can imagine that Parker would simply have to sit up and take notice if Sarmiento performed in a game sure to have such quality. It would be rather difficult to justify keeping him on the bench in the Championship if he was to star against Bielsa's Uruguay, and Sarmiento has a real strong opportunity to show Parker just what he can do.

He really needs to make the most of that, then, and will be hoping to have some form of impact regardless of whether he makes the starting lineup or not. Sarmiento is at a stage of his career where he must be developing by playing regular football and starring on the international stage may just set the ball rolling for that to happen back in Lancashire.