DYCHE IS TRYING SCRUM-THING DIFFERENT TO SAVE HIS CLARETS BIRTHDAYS
Burnley Fulham Tomorrow, KO 3pm
NO-NONSENSE Burnley boss Sean Dyche has visited top rugby club Saracens in a bid to add muscle to his team’s relegation fight.
The Clarets chief was a guest of the title-chasing Premiership side this week, exchanging ideas.
And Dyche joked he even put up with back pain to make the meeting.
Dyche said: “I was down at Saracens yesterday, their coaches had been here and invited me down there. It was really good, I enjoyed it.
“I daren’t not go down because of a slipped disc, because I knew they’d rip into me – ‘typical soft footballer!’ – so I went down.
“We’re looking at the culture, environment, winning mentality. It’s obviously a different game, so looking at their pre-briefs, debriefs, analysis. They’re a really good set up.
“In many ways, they’re in front of us, in terms of diet, the way they’re looking at things. But in many ways, usually financial, the training grounds and surface, they’re behind.
“We’ve had Tony Smith from Warrington Wolves, he comes up.
“I speak to him quite a bit and different people about different sports, picking up ideas.
“With some of the golf lads, it’s more about the individual mindset, dealing with pressure.”
The Clarets boss also received good news ahead of the clash with Fulham at Turf Moor tomorrow.
Matt Lowton, Phil Bardsley and Johann Berg Gudmundsson are all on the mend in time for the meeting with Claudio Ranieri’s strugglers. CLAUDIO RANIERI has admitted he needs a leader on the pitch who can inspire Fulham out of relegation peril.
The Cottagers have been linked with a move for Chelsea’s former England centre-back Gary Cahill, and also midfielder Danny Drinkwater, as manager Ranieri looks to recruit from one of his former clubs.
He has been promised funds by Fulham owner Shahid Khan this month as he battles to haul his side away from the Premier League drop zone. He has also been linked with Leicester duo Christian Fuchs and Shinji Okazaki, two of the players who helped his Foxes win the title in 2016.
But what Ranieri, whose side travel to Burnley tomorrow in a critical relegation clash, really needs is a leader on the pitch. The Italian said: “We have to bring someone in to survive. It would be a good boost for my players. We need someone who has experience. A leader, with good character and personality. Then we can improve our team.
“We have a very good team – but without experience. We are looking in every direction and we will see what happens this month.
“We are open-minded, I speak every day with Tony Khan (Fulham’s transfer guru). We are so close and I hope we can achieve what we are thinking.”
Fulham are one place off the bottom of the Premier League with only one win in their last eight games.
And Ranieri added: “I never look at the league table but Burnley is another crucial game. I am always optimistic, but I don’t know when the corner arrives. I hope soon.”
BRYAN ROBSON (62) – Former Manchester United and England captain.
(57) – Retired England hooker. (46) – Legendary India Test batsman.