Burnley and Chelsea lock hornes in the first Monday night televised fixture this season in the Premier League at Turf Moor, with season expectations completely the opposite in both camps heading into the season.
The hosts are playing their first game back in England’s top flight for four years, following automatic promotion from the Championship last season, with the Clarets finishing runners up to eventual winners’ Leicester City, to complete a fairytale campaign for Sean Dyche’s side.
Chelsea on the other hand head to East Lancashire lookig to kick start their season with a bang, with Jose Mourinho hungry to banish memories of last season’s trophyless campaign, having spent around £70 million on new players this summer.
Team news- Burnley.
Sean Dyche couldn’t have asked for a tougher challenge to kick-off Burnley’s Premier League campaign, and will be hoping that his squad, the majority of whome have never played in the Premier League, can deliver the goods against the mega stars of Chelsea.
Dyche is likely to go with the same team that was tried and trusted so well in the promotion winning campaign, with Dyche encouraging those who got Burnley to the promise land, to have a real shot at the big time.
Burnley’s squad togetherness shone through last season, with only 22 players being used throughout their 46 League game season, with the familiar starting XI keeping up appearances each week.
The East Lancashire club, who exceeded expectations last season will be buoyed on by their home support, in their first Premier League game since May 2010.
Dyche could hand debuts to several of his summer signings, with no fewer than seven players passing through the Turf Moor entrance over the last few months.
One possible debutant is likely to be striker Lukas Jutkiewicz, who signed for a £1.5 million fee from Middlesbrough, and has impressed during the pre season period, who has scored five goals in the friendly fixtures. The 25 year old could partner Danny Ings, should Ings return from a recent injury.
Matthew Taylor and Marvin Sordell could also be in contention for League debuts for Burnley.
Stephen Ward is set to miss the game, having signed from Wolverhampton Wanderers this week, with the Irish international fullback missing the deadline to be registered for this round of fixtures, having signed late on Friday evening.
Burnley virtually have a fully fit squad to chose from, with striker Sam Vokes the only absentee, with Vokes sustaining a long term Cruciate Ligament injury in a Championship game against Leicester City in March, Danny Ings should be fit for the game, after a recent knock.
Key man.
Burnley’s top scorer Danny Ings should lead the line heading into the game, with the 21 year old striker scoring 21 League goals during the promotion winning campaign.
Ings has attracted interest from other Premier League clubs this summer, with West Ham and Southampton reportedly keen to prize him away from Lancashire, however the striker looks set to remain at Turf Moor, and will be a vital part in their Premier League battle.
The Southampton born striker emerged from Charlie Austin’s shadow last season when Austin joined Queens Park Rangers, and really delivered when it mattered, to haul the Clarets over the line in the end.
England Under 21 striker Ings in somewhat of an unknown quantity for Jose Mourinho’s side, and a likely partneship with Lukas Jutkiewicz could surprise a few this season, as the Clarets look for one aim, Premier League survival.
Dyche can also rely upon Jutkiewicz, with the £1.5 million signing set to play an important role in Burnley’s campaign, with Jutkiewicz set to make his Premier League bow, in front of the Sky Cameras.
Jutkiewicz enjoyed a fine loan spell at Championship side Bolton Wanderers, and that form convinvced Dyche to splash the cash on the ex Middlesbrough man, who can provide a physical presence up top.
Chelsea.
Jose Mourinho takes his star studded side to Lancashire looking for a better campaign than last, with Mourinho stating thsat his side are more than in the hunt for silverware this season.
The Chelsea manager has spent big over the summer to overhaul his squad, with Diego Costsa, Cesc Fabregas and Felipe Luis all signing for the West London club. Didier Drogba also returned to the club on a free transfer from Galatasaray.
That investment into the club has also seen the sale of both Frank Lampard, who was released, and Demba Ba to Turkish club Besiktas. Dsvid Luiz was also sold to PSG for £50 million.
Chelsea are likely to hand debuts to Costa, Fabregas and Luis, in what will be a new era costing over £70 million.
Costa was signed from Atletico Madrid, having scored 27 goals as Atletico won La Liga last season, and is set to feature at Turf Moor. Meanwhile Jose Mourinho has a selection headache to contend with, as goalkeepers Petr Cech and Thilbault Courtois are to find out their fate after training on Sunday.
Chelsea’s only injury worry is that of Didier Drogba, who could miss the game with an snkle injury he sustained recently.
Key man.
Chelsea can call upon new £32 million signing Diego Costa to prove his worth on his full competative debut, with Costa wanting to skake off his price tag.
Costa signed for Chelsea in a £32 million fee from the Spanish La Liga champions, and is set to lead the line on his own, as Mourinho may opt for a 4-5-1 formation, leaving just the one striker up front.
The Brazilian born Spaniard international certainly joins Chelsea with pedigree, but also comes to the club off the back of a poor World Cup finals.
Eden Hazard is also set to be a key player in Chelsea’s season, with the Belgium international enjoying a fine 2013/14 season, with Hazard scoring 14 goals in 35 Premier League appearances for the Blues.
So much so, the winger has attracted interest from PSG this summer.
By Ben Reardon
@BenReardon1
