Burnley will play Premier League football again after finishing second in the championship and return to big time to secure the promotion.
Clarett finished with an astounding 100 points in the second tier, somehow finishing second for Leeds United, and is currently preparing to build a team that can avoid an immediate relegation from the top flight.
Scott Parker needs to make big decisions for those leaving Turf Moore, those coming, and those who are currently uncertain about the future.
Why Ashley Burns will be released this summer
The veteran striker signed the club from Norwich City during the January transfer period and penned his contract on paper until the end of the season. That means his current contract is expected to expire at the end of next month.
Prior to the final game of the season, Parker was asked by the striker if a decision was made.
“Next year or what it will look like from a player’s contract perspective certainly isn’t discussed in detail. One game remains, and that was the main focus.
“But Ashley Burns has been incredible since he came, and depending on the decision I make, I have the opportunity for him on the weekend.”
In the weeks since these comments, there have been no official confirmations for his release or new contract yet, but his limited impact on the pitch could mean seeing elsewhere before the Premier League season.
Burns finished the campaign with one goal in 21 appearances, including two starts in the championship, with Claret linking with a potential striker who could become George Hurst, the next version of the veteran forward.
Why is George Hurst likely to become the next Ashley Burns?
Burnley and Leeds are reportedly interested in signing center forwards to Ipswichtown after a relegation has already been confirmed from the Premier League, and he could be Burns 2.0
Burns joined Brighton’s Clarett at age 25, passing through League One and Championship Lower Leagues, scoring 42 goals in the club’s 200 Premier League games.
Like the Burnley icon, Hirst climbed the EFL. He played in League One of Portsmouth and Ipswich in championships with the Blackburn Rovers and the Tractor Boys.
Premier League | George Hurst (24/25) | Ashley Burns (21/22) |
|---|---|---|
exterior | twenty five | twenty three |
For each game | twenty four | 35 |
the goal | 3 | 1 |
assist | 1 | 0 |
Success rate for ground dueling | 33% | 34% |
Success rate for air duel | 59% | 44% |
Statistics via Sofascore | ||
As you can see from the table above, Ipswich’s Hearst form this season in the Premier League was more impressive than Burns’ final outing on a top flight with Claret in the 2021/22 campaign.
These statistics also show that the striker, described as “unique” by Kieran McKenna, has the physical attribute of being a Burns-esque figure to Burnley, especially to win Flick Ons and compete with the opposition defenders.
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Having scored three goals from 2.13 xg, Hearst could combine his physical and technical attributes and become an effective center forward at the Premier League level.
So Parker was able to unearth Burnley’s next Ashley Burns by signing an experienced striker.