PREM: Burnley v Watford preview

Burnley v Watford preview

Sean Dyche is confident Burnley will avoid a Europa League hangover when they face Watford on Sunday.

The Clarets started their season on July 26 and needed extra-time to beat Istanbul Basaksehir 1-0 in their third-qualifying-round clash on Thursday.

While they managed to pick up a point in a goalless draw at Southampton last weekend, the Clarets are winless in their last six Premier League games.

However, Burnley boss Dyche does not expect his side to struggle with the quick turnaround from the Europa League when they face Watford.

"The fitness here is unbelievable. The players' mental and physical fitness is absolutely fantastic, so they will be ready for Sunday," Dyche said.

 

"Statistically, it has been very high since I have been here, [even more so] once I got my own group in the first summer. And if you then add in a bit more know-how, a bit more individual awareness and team awareness of what it means to be in the Premier League, then that bodes well."

Watford, meanwhile, were 2-0 winners against Brighton on the opening day.

However, they have failed to score in any of their seven away Premier League games under Javi Gracia and are winless in their last 12 Premier League away games.

 

Dyche is expected to make several changes after his side's Europa League exertions but Robbie Brady, Steven Defour, Nick Pope and Tom Heaton remain on the injured list.

Matej Vydra is also unlikely to be involved. The £11m signing is short of match fitness after a disrupted pre-season

at Derby and is not yet considered ready for first-team action.

Watford are still without injured quartet Gerard Deulofeu, Nathaniel Chalobah, Tom Cleverley and Stefano Okaka.