FROM SLOW BURNER TO HOT STUFF
SEAN DYCHE is hoping “slow burner” Matej Vydra can spark up Burnley’s attack.
The pacy Czech striker has started seven out of the last nine games and is growing in confidence, scoring his fifth goal of the season for club and country against Leicester in the midweek draw.
Burnley manager Dyche said: “He’s earned the right to play that many.
“He’s been kept waiting a lot, and l’ve spoken to him and done some analysis with him about how we want him to operate. He’s been that sort of a slow burner.
“He needed that belief, that push, to move to the next level.
“It’s been tough, because Ashley Barnes and Chris Wood have done very well. Then we brought in Jay Rodriguez, who has been around the Premier League for a while, and has done well statistically at that level. So Vyds has had to keep going, keep going, and wait for his chance.” Vydra, 28, (above) first played in the top flight eight years ago for West Brom, but only now is he establishing himself there.
“I’m pleased for him, because he just keeps hanging in there,” added Dyche (left). “He still has more to offer, but it’s beginning to come.
“He is improving with his energy for the side.
“He is arguably our quickest player and we are using the weapon of that pace when appropriate.”
CARLO ANCELOTTI has warned Chelsea not to expect his Everton players to be such a soft touch this time around.
The Toffees return to Stamford Bridge on Monday exactly 12 months to the day they were blown away 4-0 (Mason Mount celebrates his goal, right).
A lot has happened in that year – the country went into lockdown, Thomas Tuchel replaced Frank Lampard at Chelsea and Everton have become a side no one bullies these days. Ancelotti (right) said: “We are better. We have more knowledge and more belief in what we are doing. It will be difficult, we know that, because they are a fantastic team but we can compete.”
The Italian believes he has now stamped his own identity on Everton and said: “It’s my team. I am really happy to be the manager of these players because I feel they follow me.
“They have a lot of respect for my ideas. Of course, we would like to play better. I’m not the only one who would like to play better, most of the players want to.
“We have to improve the technical quality of the squad, but what we cannot do is improve the spirit of this team. It is really high.”
He believes his former club have also changed since Tuchel took charge at the Bridge – but not as much as some would have you believe.
He added: “Offensively, they play a little bit different, but not too much because the quality of the players is still the same. They are now really consistent and solid.”
Stoke defender Danny Batth (cut head) will be assessed while Rabbi Matondo hopes to be available.
Wycombe will check on left-back Jordan Obita (muscle strain). Midfielder Nnamdi Ofoborh and winger Garath Mccleary may start.
Championship: 3pm
STOKE boss Michael O’neill has revealed the frenzied behind-the-scenes activity following defender Danny Batth’s horrific head injury.
The 30-year-old defender (right) may wear a headguard if it is decided he can play against bottom club Wycombe today.
Batth clashed heads with Swansea striker Andre
Ayew and O’neill said: “It was a very deep cut – horrific. It was so deep he needed to go to A&E to have it seen by a specialist there rather than just let a doctor stitch it up. “It had gone down to the bone but was also quite wide.
“If he can be involved he could maybe wear some kind of head protection.”