Burnley

Burnley boss Scott Parker says new signing Jonjo Shelvey has "something to prove" upon his return to English football.

Shelvey, 32, left Nottingham Forest in September 2023 to sign for Turkish side Caykur Rizespor, before moving on to their Super Lig competitors Eyupspor the following year.

Having being released at the start of this month, the midfielder has joined the Clarets on a free transfer for the remainder of the season after a successful trial period.

"You can instantly see his quality," Parker told BBC Radio Lancashire. "He's not on the back-end of where he is, he's still got plenty left in him."

The five-capped England international spent seven years with Newcastle United, helping them to win promotion from the Championship in his first season - and Parker is hoping he can repeat that feat with the Clarets, who lie third in the table.

"I think he brings something different to what we've got in those positions," Parker added.

"He brings experience and something to prove as well coming back into England.

"This is a massive opportunity for him now. Back in England, back in a good football club - it's a platform for Jonjo as well."

Burnley and Sheffield United are among clubs interested in 30-year-old Rangers forward Tom Lawrence, with the 23-cap Wales international out of contract at the end of the season. (Daily Mail, external)

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Monday's gossip here.

Image source, Rex Features

It is too early for Burnley to be thinking about promotion, according to goalkeeper James Trafford.

The Clarets are two points outside the Championship's automatic promotion places after Friday's goalless draw with Sunderland in which Trafford saved two late penalties.

"You go into every game to win and if it results in promotion it's what we set out to achieve at the start of the season, so it'd be very nice," Trafford told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"But we're in January - I don't know when you start to think about promotion."

The 22-year-old was part of the Burnley side relegated from the Premier League last season but has experience of a promotion race during a loan spell at Bolton.

"The mindset we had (at Bolton) was just take it game by game, see where it takes us and we got within two games of promotion so I keep on with that attitude," he said.

"We've got the best job in the world - football's fun. Whether it was last season, this season or the season before, it's fun."

Burnley visit Plymouth in the Championship on Wednesday looking to extend their 14-game unbeaten run in the league.

Scott Read
BBC Radio Lancashire commentator

Image source, Rex Features

Sometimes seasons have a defining moment, maybe Burnley's season will have two.

Two penalty saves, the second coming in stoppage time, to preserve the club's unbeaten home record, to deny a promotion rival the chance to replace them in the top two.

Maybe, come May, those two moments might prove significant.

Maybe that point could be the difference between the play-offs and automatic promotion, or maybe not.

Sometimes a player's career has a defining moment, maybe James Trafford's Burnley career will have two.

That double penalty save, undoubtedly his finest 10 minutes since joining the club.

Signed for a huge fee, eventually dropped from the team after a catalogue of mistakes last season in the Premier League, last night he left the field to a standing ovation, a hero's exit.

The defining moment of his Burnley career, or maybe not.

He'll likely leave Burnley for a bigger club at some point, and he'll probably play for England, but for 10 minutes last night, he was centre stage and played his part superbly.

Burnley head coach Scott Parker praised James Trafford's goalkeeping heroics as the Clarets held promotion rivals Sunderland to a goalless draw.

Trafford saved penalties from Wilson Isidor in the 86th and 95th minutes as Burnley moved level on points at the top of the Championship with Leeds United.

And Parker admitted that the point felt like a victory afterwards given how close to the end the spot-kicks were.

"It's a massive point for us in the scheme of where the game was," he said.

"Two penalties and the game could have looked very different if not for James Trafford and the saves he's made.

"Not many words can describe what he's produced. I don't think I've been involved in a game like that one at the end.

"Both were very good penalties and Traff has flown across his goal. Everything about him in terms of those big saves, we owe him one tonight."

Burnley welcome fourth placed Sunderland for a shot at the top on Friday evening (20:00 GMT).

The Clarets are just one point shy of league leaders Leeds United, while the Black Cats will go above their hosts if they take all three points at Turf Moor.

The match could see a debut for Roma loanee Enzo Le Fee, with Sunderland bolstering their squad as they compete for an automatic promotion place - and avoid shock defeats such as exiting the FA Cup at the hands of a struggling Stoke City.

Meanwhile, it took extra time for Burnley to get past Reading in their cup victory at the weekend, but the win did mean they went a 14th successive game unbeaten across all competitions.

• Burnley have won just three of their past 23 league games against Sunderland (D9 L11), failing to score in five of their past seven matches.

• Sunderland have failed to win any of their past five away league games against Burnley (D3 L2), since a 2-0 win at Turf Moor in March 2005.

• Burnley have kept 17 clean sheets in just 26 league games this season and currently have the best goals-conceded per game rate by a team in a single season in English Football League history (0.35 – 9 in total).

• Sunderland have won just one of their past seven away league games (D4 L2), failing to score in four of those outings.

• In games between the current top four teams in the Championship this season (Leeds, Burnley, Sheffield United, Sunderland), Burnley (2.0 – W2 L1) and Sunderland (1.8 – W2 D1 L1) have the best points-per-game rates.

Former Liverpool and England midfielder Jonjo Shelvey remains on trial with Burnley as he seeks to seal a move back to England. (Burnley Express, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column.

Image source, Rex Features

Burnley boss Scott Parker says the club have "not yet made a decision" on whether to sign Jonjo Shelvey.

The 32-year-old former Liverpool and Newcastle United midfielder is training with the Clarets squad and is available on a free transfer having been released by Turkish Super Lig club Eyupspor.

"We'll have those conversations in the coming days on how I see things and where he sits with it as well," Parker told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"He's been first class since he came in, applied himself in the right way, but it's still too early to say."

The Clarets who sit second in the Championship and a point behind leaders Leeds host fourth-placed Sunderland on Friday and Parker says "nothing's changed" in terms of the injury situation in his squad ahead of the game.

Burnley have renewed their interest in Plymouth Argyle forward Morgan Whittaker, having been unable to secure a deal for the 24-year-old in the summer. (Burnley Express, external)

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Monday's gossip here.

Burnley boss Scott Parker is prepared to part ways with Hjalmar Ekdal and Hannes Delcroix this month, putting QPR, Stoke, Rangers and a clutch of continental clubs on high alert. (Football League World, external)

Want more EFL transfer stories? Read Sunday's full gossip column.

Former Liverpool, Newcastle and England midfielder Jonjo Shelvey is set to complete a move to Burnley on a free transfer. (Football League World, external)

Want more EFL transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column.

Image source, Rex Features

Leeds United boss Daniel Farke has been named the EFL's Championship manager of the month for December.

Leeds were unbeaten last month, with five wins and one draw from their six games, which saw them finish 2024 top of the table.

They also only conceded two goals in that run, while scoring 13.

It is the first time Farke has won the award this season.

Leeds have drawn their opening two games of January and host Harrogate Town in the FA Cup third round on Saturday.

QPR head coach Marti Cifuentes, Burnley's Scott Parker and Danny Rohl of Sheffield Wednesday were also nominated for the award.