Bliss and Tella
THREE ‘N EASY FOR FAN FAVE
NATHAN TELLA’S value is rocketing every time he pulls on a Burnley shirt.
The on-loan Southampton striker hit a glorious hat-trick to destroy Lancashire rivals Preston at Turf Moor and he could have had more.
It took Tella’s tally to 14 goals for the season – and five in five days after his midweek FA Cup double against Ipswich.
And that could be bitter-sweet for boss Vincent Kompany and Clarets fans desperate for the striker to join permanently.
With each goal it is more likely one of the Premier League big guns will be knocking on the Saints’ door with bigger cheques than Burnley can write next summer.
Kompany said: “The key is to keep doing what has brought him this far.
“Don’t change your habits and don’t look too much at records. He’s scoring goals and he can get more if he stays on track.”
On Tella’s future, Kompany added: “I’m too respectful of the clubs that we have agreements with. It can’t be a hostage situation so there’s nothing to discuss right now.”
Tella’s goal spree made it a 10th successive league win as the Clarets rampage their way through the Championship.
Ryan Lowe’s Preston arrived with a decent away record – but were no match for Burnley after Tella headed them in front with 15 minutes gone.
With tricky Anass Zaroury causing problems Preston were on the back foot – and 2-0 down with 55 minutes gone as Tella speared a left-foot drive past Freddie Woodman.
Moments later Tella produced a finish through the keeper’s legs after an Ashley Barnes knock-on.
Lowe said: “It wasn’t good from us – but they’ll have the league wrapped up in six weeks because they have the best players.”
BURNLEY: Muric 6; Roberts 7, Ekdal 7 (Taylor (81) 5), Beyer 6, Maatsen 6; Cullen 8, Brownhill 7 (Twine (81) 5); Gudmundsson 7 (Cork (73) 5), Tella 9 (Obafemi (73) 5), Zaroury 8; Barnes 7 (Foster (61) 6)
PRESTON: Woodman 6; Storey 6, Lindsay 5, Hughes 5; Browne 5, McCann 6, Ledson 5 (Whiteman (46) 5), Brady 5 (Fernandez (68) 5); Delap 6, Cannon 5 (Onomah (68)
5), Woodburn 5 (Parrott (46) 5)
STAR MAN: Nathan Tella – The lethal on-loan striker destroyed Preston with a stunning hat-trick.
REF: Darren Bond 7