Football League World
·16 de agosto de 2024
Koleosho starts, 4-2-3-1: The predicted Burnley FC XI to face Cardiff City
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·16 de agosto de 2024
It'd be an understatement to say Scott Parker has plenty of players to chose from, but will he make changes?
Burnley aren't short of options heading into their match against Cardiff City on Saturday.
Scott Parker has by far the biggest squad to work with of all the Championship managers this season. If they sign a few more players and don't let anyone go, then they may end up with 40 first-team members, although the chances of them not offloading some dead wood is very unlikely.
The ludicrous number of players that the boss has to keep happy didn't affect him and his team on Monday though. They put on one of the most impressive performances of the opening round of fixtures, beating Luton Town 4-1.
But, with all these options to choose from, what starting XI will Parker pick against Cardiff? Here's what Football League World thinks he will go with.
The noise surrounding James Trafford and a potential departure from Turf Moor has quietened down over recent weeks.
The boss' decision to put him between the sticks in their opening fixture shows that he is likely going to be their number one going forward, even though they have signed two other players in his position this summer.
Connor Roberts' potential replacement, Shurandy Sambo, didn't even make the bench against Luton, so his spot in the team should be pretty safe.
This game against the Bluebirds could be the Irishman's last for the club if Brentford secure a deal for him before the following weekend.
They were reported to be close to reaching an agreement with Burnley, but Sky Sports' live blog (10:26 14th August) have since said that the two clubs are still apart on Dara O'Shea's value.
The French defender's solid display alongside O'Shea should keep him in the team.
Going forward, the Brazilian looks a real threat. His delivery and passing looked effortless at Kenilworth Road. He's definitely one to keep an eye on as the season goes on.
Had Sander Berge been fit, Josh Cullen would probably have found himself on the bench. But Parker has said that Saturday will come too soon for the Norwegian to be involved, and Cullen will likely retain his spot in the Burnley team.
The captain put in a performance worthy of his position on Monday night, and there is absolutely no way he doesn't line up from the first minute against City.
Vitinho's first 90 minutes in a claret shirt certainly gave the travelling fans a reason to chant his name.
The natural full-back was used in a much more advanced role by Parker against the Hatters, but then he would drop back in as a wing-back when out of possession. It seems unlikely that he will be dropped for the weekend's game.
Burnley are now a little bit short of options for central attacking midfielders as Wilson Odobert looks likely to leave the club to join Tottenham Hotspur,
They do have Scott Twine, though, who was on the bench against Luton but wasn't used. He feels like the natural replacement for Odobert, despite his links with a move elsewhere as well.
Burnley's manager has confirmed that Luca Koleosho will be fit to play against Cardiff. He didn't get himself on the scoresheet, but his scintillating return to football on Monday surely makes him a guaranteed starter.
Similarly to Koleosho, the South African forward, who was one of the standouts in a pretty dismal season last time out for the Clarets, didn't find the back of the net, but he plays such a crucial role in Parker's attack that someone like Wout Weghorst couldn't replicate if he was inserted into the starting XI.