EPL: Burnley v Bournemouth preview

Burnley v Bournemouth preview

There will be a party atmosphere at Turf Moor as Burnley conclude their hugely successful season by hosting Bournemouth on Sunday.

Sean Dyche's men are guaranteed to finish seventh in the Premier League and have secured European football next season for the first time since 1967.

The Clarets will discover where the European tour takes them when the draw for the Europa League second qualifying round is made in Nyon on Tuesday, June 19.

 

However, they have not won any of their last four league games, losing twice, so Dyche will be looking for his team to end on a high.

Dyche, who becomes the first Burnley manager since the late, great Harry Potts to lead the club into Europe, said: "At the end of the day I have come to understand what this means to a town like Burnley.

"I'm from Kettering, don't forget; a town the similar size to Burnley, and they nearly went out of business a few years ago.

"Burnley - a team in the Premier League with a population of around 75,000 - and now in Europe. What's all that about?"

Meanwhile, Bournemouth secured their first win in six Premier League games against Swansea last week, having lost their previous three.

 

Burnley have no new injury or suspension concerns ahead of the game, although Dyche may use the fixture to give some of his squad players a run out.

Ashley Barnes (arm), Scott Arfield (calf), Steven Defour and Robbie Brady (both knee) are all absent.

Harry Arter and Adam Smith will both miss Bournemouth's final Premier League clash of the season. Arter continues to battle Achilles trouble, while Smith is still recovering from a knee ligament injury.

Junior Stanislas is still working his way back from knee trouble too, so is another to miss out.