Burnley are enjoying a dream start to their 2017-18 season. In a season where the good teams like Everton and West Ham United have failed to turn up, Burnley have gone about their business quietly. They are now seventh on the table, just behind the top six sides of England.
Their achievement becomes even more impressive when it is noted that they are level on points with fifth-placed Liverpool and sixth-placed Arsenal and only behind in goal difference. In fact, Sean Dyche’s team is just one point off a Champions League spot.
They have notched up six wins and just been defeated twice in their 12 matches this season. A strange number amidst all these stats is the fact that they have just scored 12 goals in the process in their twelve matches. It means they stand eleventh in terms of goals scored but however has still been able to stay seventh on the table.
The credit obviously goes to Sean Dyche’s defensive infrastructure at Burnley. They have been incredibly difficult to get past and barring Chelsea and Manchester City, no other team has been able to break their defence on more than one occasion in ninety minutes.
However, to keep up this good form and possibly challenge for a European spot, Burnley will need to add goals to their game. It is in this light that they are now being linked with a move for Northern Ireland winger Jordan Jones.
The 23-year old player plies his trade for Kilmarnock and recently made his national team debut in the play-off against Switzerland. He is held in high regard as was evident when he was given the iconic number 7 jersey once worn by the legendary George Best.
Jones, who is a graduate of the Middlesborough academy, was heartbroken when he left Boro after fourteen years at the club. He had an ill-disciplined youth when he was sentenced to for some trouble with a clubber.
However, the 23-year old says that he has now matured and put all his mistakes in the past. He has also learned a great deal from how Middlesborough parted ways with him after 14 years.
“I was absolutely heartbroken when I left Middlesbrough.
“It was all I knew. I had been there for so long. I was really down for a while after it.
“But I said to myself I could either sit about and feel sorry for myself or go and make something for myself.
“Moving away has helped me. I had to mature. I made a few mistakes when I was younger.
“But I’m a totally different person now.
“I’ve learned the hard way, made the worst mistakes you can make. I’ve made them and I know I won’t do it again.”
Jones has two goals in nineteen appearances this season and bringing in a creative player of his pace and trickery could really help Dyche’s team in the attacking third.
