FORMATION FAITH

BURNLEY reverted back to the traditional 4-4-2 that has served them so well under manager Sean Dyche’s watch at Leicester.

The Clarets boss proved that he and his players could mix things up last season. But with the emphasis on getting ‘back-to-basics’ to arrest a run of defeats and goals conceded, their more orthodox shape served them well at the King Power Stadium.

They had two up top at West Ham with Matej Vydra playing off Sam Vokes, and to a degree there were improvements, despite defeat. But at Leicester, Chris Wood was rewarded with a start for his goalscoring performance from the bench against the Hammers.

There was a much better balance to the side and Dyche is likely to stick with the same formula.

MAGPIES IN-FORM

NEWCASTLE have hit form just in time for Monday night’s trip to Turf Moor.

Salomon Rondon has been key to that. The striker was struggling after injury earlier on in the season.

But it is no coincidence that Newcastle have had an upturn in fortunes at the same time the Venezuelan has looked more of a threat.

Rondon signed off before the international break with both goals in the 2-1 win over Bournemouth – his first goals for Newcastle in the league.

Burnley, though, have taken great encouragement from their goalless draw at Leicester City and will be looking to use that confidence to kick on again.

WALKING WOUNDED

IT seems Burnley have been taking one step forward and two back on the injury front.

Just when Dyche thought he was close to getting a full complement back at his disposal he lost defenders James Tarkowski and Ben Gibson to hernias, while left back Stephen Ward was already sidelined with a knee injury.

There were further concerns over recently returned Steven Defour and Johann Berg Gudmundsson as both went off against Leicester. Defour over-stretched the knee that had required surgery last season, while Gudmundsson went off with a calf strain.

Both withdrawals were more as a precaution, and with more than a fortnight between fixtures to rest and recover it is expected the midfield pair will be available to face Newcastle.