Burnley: Where will the goals come from without Andre Gray?
Burnley suffered a blow after striker Andre Gray was given a four-game suspension by the English FA. Where the goals now come from for the Clarets?
Burnley were already struggling to score goals in the Premier League and things are now even tougher. Andre Gray was given a four-game ban by the English FA for misconduct on social media on Friday.
Some homophobic tweets that Gray posted back in 2012 were in circulation online after Burnley’s win over Liverpool last month. The FA charged the striker with misconduct and Gray has now subsequently been handed a ban.
Burnley are already tied as the lowest scorers in the Premier League and Gray is the club’s big hope for goals this season. Now the striker is set to be on the sidelines for a while, it gives Sean Dyche a fresh headache as his team look to improve their goal return.
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Gray scored 23 goals in 41 games last season as Burnley were promoted from the Championship. This is a big season for the 25-year-old as he bids to not only score the goals to help his team survive relegation, but also show other Premier League clubs that he can hack it at in the top flight.
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So far, Gray has only scored one goal in his first five games. It hasn’t been an explosive start for the him but the fact Burnley are punching above their weight even being in the division doesn’t help. Regardless, Gray has to find a way to score moving forward.
However, for the next four games, Dyche has to find a way for his team to score without Gray in the team. Sam Vokes has scored this season and will be the main man Dyche turns to. But can Vokes carry the load?
Patrick Bamford is another player who could profit in the short term. Bamford showed promise as a youngster coming through at Chelsea but is yet to prove himself at this level. Loan stints at the likes of Crystal Palace and Norwich City have failed to see any end product.
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Bamford’s best season was in the Championship with Middlesbrough. Ultimately, that might be his level. Dyche also has Ashley Barnes but the 26-year-old has suffered with injuries so far this season.
The likes of George Boyd and Jeff Hendrick in midfield will need to step up. Belgian Steven Defour has already netted a goal for his new club this season. Like everything with Burnley, it’s going to take a team effort.
The Clarets are among the lowest shooting teams in the league in the first five games. Dyche’s men have averaged 7.8 shots per game and just 1.8 shots on target this season. The last three games have seen Burnley muster just four shots on target in total.
The creativity needs to step up before the goalscoring can. But the Gray news just throws an obstacle in front of those plans. The striker will miss games against Watford, Arsenal, Southampton and Everton.
If things weren’t already tough enough for Burnley, now they’re even tougher.
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