Burnley boss OK with Wood’s switch

Burnley manager Sean Dyche insists he has no ill feelings about All Whites star Chris Wood’s move to English Premier League relegation rivals Newcastle United.

Newcastle last week activated a £25 million ($50 million) release cause in Wood’s contract, and the New Zealander made his Magpies debut in a 1-1 draw with Watford last Sunday.

Wood, who had 10 or more goals for each of the past four seasons at Burnley, was signed by Dyche from Leeds United for £15 million in 2017.

Dyche addressed Wood’s transfer for the first time at a press conference in Burnley yesterday and claimed ‘‘there is no angle on Chris at all’’.

‘‘He is a professional footballer, has done very well for the football club and an opportunity arose and he thought it through and decided it was right for him. That is football and being an individual footballer,’’ Dyche said.

Wood, who scored just three goals in 17 EPL games for Burnley this season, claimed in his first interview as a Newcastle player that he had been ‘‘in my comfort zone’’ at the Lancashire club. ‘‘I knew what it was about, and you never do anything great in your comfort zone.

‘‘To be extraordinary and to take my game to the next level, [I need to] challenge myself at a massive club like Newcastle, it was the right option.

The ‘‘comfort zone’’ claim was news to Dyche, who said ‘‘he had not mentioned it to me’’.

‘‘He has been performing for a long time and sometimes players do hit a quiet spell,’’ Dyche said. ‘‘It certainly wasn’t us allowing him to sit in his comfort zone.’’

Dyche felt Wood’s comfort zone references were ‘‘his personal comments so therefore he is reflecting on himself rather than the situation at the club’’.

Burnley are looking to sign a replacement for Wood, but in the meantime, have had another game postponed due to Covid infections in their camp.

Burnley’s match against Watford today was scrapped after Dyche revealed the Clarets had just 10 first team players available for training.

Premier League guidance says clubs should have a minimum of 13 outfield players and one goalkeeper available for a match to go ahead.