Burnley

Image source, Rex Features

Burnley are "hopeful" of securing the futures of defender CJ Egan-Riley and midfielder Josh Brownhill, according to boss Scott Parker.

The Clarets secured an immediate return to the Premier League by beating Sheffield United 2-1 on Easter Monday and Parker's attentions have turned to getting the out-of-contract duo to sign new deals.

"They are ongoing conversations we've been having over the last few months and we'll keep engaging with," he said ahead of Saturday's match at QPR (12:30 BST).

"Probably now we all know and there's real clarity on where we're going to be (next season), hopefully we can get some conclusions on both of them."

Egan-Riley has featured in 39 of Burnley's 44 league games this season while Brownhill has scored 16 goals in 42 appearances.

"I am confident - I know both the players have loved this year and been vital to what we've done," added Parker. "Obviously you never know but hopefully we can get to a point where we'll have a bit of clarity on that."

Having secured automatic promotion, Burnley will continue the battle for the title when they visit Queen's Park Rangers on Saturday (12:30 BST).

The Clarets won promotion after defeating rivals Sheffield United on Monday but now turn their attentions to winning the league.

They are currently in second place but level on points with Leeds United, bested only by goal difference.

However the title is not the only thing the Lancashire side are vying for, they could also match Reading's unbeaten Championship record if they keep themselves undefeated across their final two league games.

• QPR have won just one of their last seven home league games against Burnley (D3 L3), a 2-0 victory in the Premier League in December 2014.

• Burnley have kept a clean sheet in four of their last five league games against QPR, with the exception being a 2-1 home loss in April 2023.

• After winning seven of their eight home league games between December and February (L1), QPR are now winless in their last five at Loftus Road (D3 L2).

• Burnley are unbeaten in their last 31 league games (W20 D11). It's their longest run in their league history, while only Reading (33 in 2005-06) have had a longer run in a single second tier campaign.

• Burnley have conceded just 15 goals in the Championship this season, despite having an xG against figure of 36.3. Their record of conceding 21 goals fewer than their xGA suggests is at least 10 more than any other side this season.

David Unsworth
Former Burnley defender on BBC Radio Lancashire

Image source, PA Media

What does success look like for Scotty Parker next year in the Premier League? If he survives the first season, it's a brilliant season. Survival is key.

You only have to look at clubs that are promoted; they usually go straight back down.

Celebrations quickly turn into a survival campaign. That's how you build a club. That's what Sean Dyche did. Stay in the Premier League the first year and build from there.

I hope he [Parker] is backed in the transfer market in terms of recruitment and given the money that he deserves because he is a fine, fine young manager.

I knew Scotty Parker was a good young coach, but I didn't realise how good he actually was until he came to this football club.

He's a young man with great experience already. He's got three promotions under his belt, and the sky is the limit for him.

He should be getting amazing plaudits. I don't think he does. I don't think he gets the acclaim and the plaudits that he is due.

The way he's turned it around in a short period and then from January, it's incredible.

If this guy is not up for manager of the year, there is something wrong.

Image source, PA Media

We asked you how it feels to see Burnley win promotion back to the Premier League and whether they can stay up next season.

Here's what you said:

Alan: For a mostly new squad to achieve what they have done is beyond belief. The whole club have been magnificent in giving supporters a team to get behind and believe in again. Superb.

Tom: This promotion feels completely different to last time. Last time, it felt as if the plan was to get promoted after a few seasons in the Championship rebuilding and preparing. This time it definitely was the plan. I feel we are much better set up for the PL now. Our defence is so solid so hopefully we can grind out the results next season. I hope Parker's backed financially in the summer to buy a proper striker otherwise we're in trouble.

James: It's such a mixed bag. It's absolute elation in the moment, especially considering the turbulence at the start of the season in terms of new manager and the exodus. On the other hand, it's tinged with looking up the record of the most recently promoted teams and the experience of last year. The gulf is only getting bigger and it'll take something Herculean to stay up now we're back.

Joe: It's a great feeling to secure the promotion, but a bit apprehensive for next season. Our last run in the Prem was miserable. Scott Parker's style will be more suited in the Prem but seeing how the promoted teams have got on this year doesn't inspire much confidence.

Frank: Defensively Scott Parker has done an incredible job. To go 31 games undefeated in this league has been an awesome achievement, conceding only 15 goals all season thus far. Like all clubs, Burnley need a reliable high-scoring striker (or two!) - their top scorer with 15 goals, Brownhill, plays in midfield, and this lack of goals from the front men will be a major issue next season in the Premier League. Burnley's location to the Manchester clubs and good relationships may help them get quality loanees from either club which would help from both a quality and financial aspect. I think Burnley have a good chance of surviving next season.

Richard: Burnley should do better than Leeds in the Premier League next season if they can keep hold of Parker and back him. Good luck and congratulations. East Lancashire needs a settled Premier League club.

Matt: Consistency and defensive brilliance all season and the winning results have started to come. They have deserved promotion - not forgetting Sheffield United had a two-point deduction. Burnley have had a massive transition with 50+ ins and outs. Remarkable what Scott Parker has achieved. We need strength in depth across the defence and midfield, we need a number 9 who is going to get 15+ goals a season. Survival in 17th place has to be the aim.

Clifford: We were incredible, fulfilled our objective, breaking records on the way. People say we are boring. Football has become a tad boring. Scott Parker has been quite simply amazing.

Burnley midfielder Josh Cullen says winning promotion to the Premier League is an "absolutely amazing" feeling and a day he will "never forget".

The 29-year-old has only missed two Championship games this season, making 42 appearances at the heart of the Clarets' midfield, including in the 2-1 win over Sheffield United on Monday to secure a return to the top flight.

"To do it with such a special group of people, not only the lads and the team-mates but the staff and everyone around the club, [I'm] just over the moon," Cullen told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"We always had that belief and I think, although we've played it down all season, when you looked at the fixture schedule, you thought this game could be a massive one.

"Obviously it turned out to be a defining one for us to get over the line. I think the run we've been on, the belief we have in ourselves, we always believed we can win games and we've got enough to score goals and defend when we have to defend."

Cullen praised the atmosphere at Turf Moor and thanked the fans who have "pushed us on all year".

"They've been magnificent this year and backed us the whole way. Happy to reward them and get the club back where it belongs," he said.

The Ireland international was in the squad when Burnley were relegated from the Premier League in 2023-24 and said it made this promotion "especially" satisfying.

"It's obviously been a lot tighter this year with three - four teams with Sunderland prior - going for the two automatic spots," Cullen added.

"We've had to be right on our game and it's probably a little bit extra this time having experienced the pain of relegation last year.

"We'll enjoy this moment, that's for sure."

Former Manchester City and Burnley goalkeeper Joe Hart believes newly-promoted sides will take a "totally different approach" to the Premier League next season.

All three teams who have gone up from the Championship will have come straight back down for two seasons running, unless Ipswich Town can pull off a mathematical miracle and avoid relegation.

Leeds United and Burnley will face the challenge of trying to buck that trend in the 2025-26 campaign.

"I think fans are going to have to get on board that their teams are going to be looking to grind out results and earn their status in the Premier League," Hart told BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club show.

"I think it has been very much shown over the last two seasons what an impressive league this is and you really have to be squeaky clean if you want to play that sort of football because you will get picked apart and hurt.

"The teams coming up now will address that with a clear game plan."

Hart said Clarets boss Scott Parker has "made it very clear he wants a rock solid team" and there is "no way he is going to come away from that next season".

"Absolutely no way, especially after what he has seen in the last two seasons from newly promoted sides," Hart added.

Ex-Norwich and Blackburn striker Chris Sutton said: "It will be interesting, the summer of recruitment, because you feel they need to be a little bit stronger at the top end of the pitch.

"It is just that first season, trying to get that foothold, just staying in the Premier League no matter how you do it, try and get over the line.

"Having a solid foundation, that is the best way to go, but it is a level up. That's the issue."

Listen to the Monday Night Club on BBC Sounds.

Image source, Getty Images

Good morning, Burnley fans. How does that feel then? Back in the Premier League again!

You're sure to be soaking in all the glory today and you can follow all the reaction here to the Clarets (and Leeds) winning promotion.

We also want to hear your thoughts on the following:

• How do you feel after winning promotion to the Premier League?

• What was this season's success built on?

• Do you think you can stay in the top flight next season?

Get in touch and let us know what you think here.

BBC Radio Lancashire have spoken to Burnley boss Scott Parker in the aftermath of their promotion to the Premier League.

The Clarets boss said he is proud of his side after their win against Sheffield United ensured they would return to the top flight next term.

Image source, Getty Images

Burnley's promotion back to the Premier League was confirmed with a stunning victory over Sheffield United earlier on Monday.

Boss Scott Parker has paid tribute to how hard his side have had to work to get over the line.

"The ambition and the target at the start of the season was to get back to the Premier League and we've managed to do that so I'm hugely proud of the squad," Parker told BBC Radio Lancashire

"It's come down to real, pure commitment from every one of the players, their dedication and the sacrifice that they've made, that leads us to this point.

"In this moment, I explained to the lads, that there is emotion from me because I see the commitment that every one has brought.

"We live in a world where you win or you lose and you get judged and at the end of the season you're either promoted or not and that's how quickly people will judge it.

"I'm just delighted all that work, all that effort, all that sacrifice has been worth it and people can see it. The facts are if you don't get promoted people can see it."

Image source, Rex Features

Burnley boss Scott Parker hailed James Trafford as "a world-class keeper" and praised him for how he has bounced back from a difficult first season at the club.

Trafford, 22, lost his place towards the end of his debut Clarets campaign last term, which ended in their Premier League relegation under Vincent Kompany.

But he has been the best stopper in the Championship this season, and central to Burnley's remarkable defensive record as they have conceded only 14 goals and kept 29 clean sheets in 43 games.

Trafford showed his quality once again in Burnley's 2-1 win at nine-man Watford, producing three outstanding saves, including a stunning fingertip stop seconds before the Clarets equaliser and another one late on to preserve their lead.

"There's no denying at the beginning of the season, the work we all had to do with Traff and where he was, there was a lot of work," Parker told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"He needed to engage in that. He needed to take a breath and take stock and decide where he wanted to be, and to be fair to him, I've seen someone mature. There's no denying that he's a world-class keeper.

"How you judge keepers is in big moments.

"Even at the back end of the game. They're down to nine men, he's barely had anything to do. Fella hits one from 30 yards and he has to pull off a save.

"Not sleeping, diligent. He's just a top, top keeper."

Burnley head to Vicarage Road to take on Watford on Friday (15:00 BST) knowing a maximum of three wins from their remaining four Championship matches will be enough to secure automatic promotion.

Watford, seven points adrift off the top six, need to win all their four games to stand any chance of sneaking into the play-offs.

• Watford have only won one of their past eight league games against Burnley (D3 L4), a 1-0 victory in August 2022.

• Burnley lost on their last league visit to Watford in August 2022, but not since February 1995 have they lost on successive league trips (run of three).

• Watford have won just three of past 21 league games on Good Friday (D11 L7), with just one win in their last six at home (D3 L2).

• Burnley have won 12 of their past 15 league games on Good Friday (D2 L1), including each of their past two on the road against Blackpool in April 2014 (1-0) and Middlesbrough in April 2023 (2-1).

• Burnley are unbeaten in their past 29 league games (W18 D11) and could reach 30 games undefeated in the English Football League for the second time in their history after last doing so in March 1921.

Burnley boss Scott Parker says there is "good news" concerning the shoulder injury suffered by striker Lyle Foster as the Clarets look to seal their Premier League promotion over the next four games.

Foster was hurt in the recent goalless draw with Derby County and there were doubts over whether the South Africa forward would be able to play much of a role in the run-in.

But speaking ahead of Good Friday's trip to Watford, Parker is optimistic on Foster's chances.

"We had some good news around Lyle and we are hoping we will see him again before the end of the season," Parker, who is up for the Championship manager of the year award, told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"It may be as quick as over the next couple of games so, again, we are at the back end of the season, Lyle is in the frame of mind where he wants to get back as well.

"We will see, we will slowly push him, we pushed him [on Wednesday], see how he comes out of that and take it gradual with him.

"From the initial worry, whilst it's still a biggish injury, it's stable and it might be something if Lyle can tolerate, it's still a big ask, but we will see where Lyle progresses with that really."

Parker added that everyone else in the squad is fit as the second-placed Clarets, five points ahead of Sheffield United in third, try to get the three wins they need to guarantee promotion.

Image source, Getty Images

Burnley manager Scott Parker says his players must "stay level and focused" if they are to achieve automatic promotion to the Premier League.

The Clarets significantly boosted their chances of making the top two with a 2-1 win over Norwich at Turf Moor on Friday.

"Overall, I am delighted with the group," Parker told BBC Radio Lancashire. "We set about it first half, and had an incredible first half. Every phase of our game, from the attacking front, looked a real threat.

"Defensively, in terms of our positioning, meant we really suffocated Norwich. In the second half we dropped our energy, mostly due to the business of the schedule.

"Once a goal goes in, it becomes a nervy time. But we are disappointed about the goal, we've been superb defensively, but I thought our reaction, and the stadium's reaction, was really positive."

Parker's side went top of the table after the victory, five points clear of third placed Sheffield United. Leeds' superior goal difference will mean they leapfrog Burnley with victory this weekend.

"This is about staying very level, very focused, not getting involved in the emotions of this time of year," he added.

"My message is to stay calm, there's four games left, let's keep chalking them off."