Lancashire

Nicola Pearson
BBC Sport journalist

Burnley boss Scott Parker has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Wolves at Molineux (kick-off 14:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Parker confirmed they have "no fresh injury news" with forward Lyle Foster "back in contention" having trained with the team this week.

• The Clarets boss feels the "best part of any football club is the next day after three points" as he reflected on their second win of the season against Leeds last weekend: "We know how difficult it is to do. [It has been] massively positive around the place and I was really pleased after a good performance."

• He said Burnley "need to produce the same level" again but there are still "elements to improve", adding: "I have seen in this group there is a real honesty; a hard work, full focus commitment and desire that gets you far. That will get us far this year. Add that to the quality and a fresh, young team we have then that can help us."

• On the change of shape against Leeds: "Really pleased with that. More pleased with all the players who worked on the different shape and were flexible. It was a real compliment to them that they executed that and, in a limited amount of time, got clear understanding of what we wanted. We are in a time when we can vary whether we go back three or back four. I'm not sure it will stay, but we know we can use that."

• On if being high up in statistics for long balls matters if a team is winning: "I don't think so, if you are winning. Fundamentally, your main objective needs to be to win. You can have the best stats ever but questions will still be asked if you are not winning. If you have the most possession then people ask if you need to play long more if you are not winning. There is always context to these things."

• Parker agreed that getting a first win away from home would be the next psychological hurdle for the team to overcome: "Winning away from home is tough. For sure, it will be an extra driver for us. We are in a good place, have had good results and now need to try to get our first away result - that will be key for us."

• Players contributing goals from different areas of the pitch will be "key" for Burnley, and Parker praised midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu after his recent goals: "He has got that in his game. He is technically very good, arrives in the box and has presence about him. His goals epitomised that."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Listen to live commentary of Wolves v Burnley on Sunday from 14:00 GMT on Sports Extra 3 on BBC Sounds and BBC Radio Lancashire (95.5, 103.9, 104.5FM and DAB) from 13:45

Preston defender Lewis Gibson has said he always leaves everything out on the pitch when playing for the club.

Gibson has featured in each of Preston's 11 Championship fixtures this season.

North End host Sheffield United on Friday (20:00 BST) sitting 11th in the table, but knowing that a win would take them into the play-off places ahead of the Saturday fixtures.

Gibson is keen to keep improving and told BBC Radio Lancashire: "I think as games go by you always look at the 10 games mark where you start getting a rhythm.

"I'm feeling confident and I'm grateful, every game I go out there I give my all and that's all you can do. I don't leave a stone unturned with what I can do day to day and game to game so I'm pleased, but I'm always eager that I can do more."

With Preston preparing to host a seemingly revitalised Sheffield United team, Gibson is keen to emphasise the importance of the atmosphere at Deepdale.

"I think this season the results at home have been really positive and to be honest, I liked the other day when it starts to go against us a little bit and you feel a bit of edge in the crowd because I think that did do things,

"I like when you make it a bit hostile and I think it should be a difficult place to come, I think that's what we should aim to do.

"The fans have been brilliant this season, home and away, they've travelled in numbers and we're trying to repay them as best we can."

Listen to the full interview and more on BBC Sounds.

Preston come into this game looking to avoid a third successive league defeat for the first time since April.

Having scored more than one goal in a game for the first time this season in their 3-1 win at Blackburn on Tuesday, Sheffield United are hoping to make it three victories in a row.

• Preston North End are winless in their past eight league games against Sheffield United (D2 L6), losing all of the last four.

• Sheffield United are unbeaten in each of their past four league trips to Preston North End (W3 D1) and could win three in a row for the first time.

• Preston have lost their last two league games, having lost only one of their previous 10 (W4 D5). Since the start of last season they've only lost three successive league games once before (run of four in April).

• Sheffield United have won each of their past two league games, as many as in their previous 12 (D1 L9), last winning three in a row in February last season (run of four).

• Only Junior Firpo (14) has been involved in more Championship goals among defenders since the start of last season than Sheffield United's Harrison Burrows (10 – 6 goals, 4 assists), who scored and assisted against Blackburn last time out.

Preston North End manager Paul Heckingbottom said the outcome of their defeat against Birmingham City was "decided by the referee" but abuse of the officials is not the answer.

After the 1-0 loss on Tuesday, Heckingbottom said if VAR had been implemented his side would have won.

"Everyone can see that the outcome of that game was decided by the referee and no one wants that, the referees don't want that. It's something we all want to avoid in the game, referees included.

"I'd rather not mention stuff like that but sometimes I feel it's right but I'd always rather speak to Kevin Friend for example about it. It's difficult because you can never say what you really want to say but you still want to be constructive with what you're saying and still try and get your point across about how important it is.

"We're all on the same page in terms of that we don't want to see it [bad decisions] and we need it to be better, everyone's of the same opinion.

"I don't think managers coming out abusing officials is necessarily the best thing as much as you do want to because there is a different level of accountability there.

"They'll feel a pressure off it but really there doesn't seem to be enough accountability there, they'll get a game the next time, so, I don't think managers coming out and abusing the officials is the answer."

Image source, Getty Images

You have been sending in your questions as part of our "Ask about Burnley" service, using this form.

Roger enquired about the fitness of Jordan Beyer, who has not played for the club for nearly two years.

We put that to BBC Radio Lancashire's Scott Read:

As I understand it Jordan suffered an inner meniscus (knee) injury in a game against Luton Town in October 2023 and was out for about a month.

He then returned and played nine more Premier League matches that season.

The injury flared back up and his final appearance came against Aston Villa when he lasted 17 minutes on 30 December 2023.

He underwent surgery the following year and played no part in the promotion winning season under Scott Parker.

This summer, he played a friendly game in pre-season for 20 minutes and told Burnley FC's website that: "It feels incredible - I'm close to tears"

However, Scott Parker confirmed last week that he has suffered a further setback in his recovery and did not give a timescale for his return..

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