Will the Clarets survive in the Barclays Premier League next season?

It's early days yet perhaps to make a judgement call. The 2016 Euros have still to be played for and a victor to emerge.



The Clarets have a trio of representatives in Tom Heaton for England, Sam Vokes for Wales and Stephen Ward for the Republic of Ireland. Names All adding to the Euro finals interest for Clarets' fans.

The spine of the Clarets' Championship winning team will certainly be added to. Targets such as Brighton's Dale Stephens, Forest's Henri Lansbury and Aston Villa's Ashley Westwood are in the frame to replace Barton's surprise exit to Ibrox.

Midfield is certainly the priority area for Sean Dyche to strengthen. The last relegation campaign from the Premier League was blighted by a lack of options in midfield.

The injury sustained by Dean Marney which immediately followed unsuccessful attempts to bolster the squad in the January transfer window, heard the relegation doomed bells toll.

If Burnley Football Club hope to survive this season's campaign, they simply must not allow this paucity of squad to be repeated. Heaton, Lowton, Mee, Keane and Ward are a formidable back four and provide an extremely solid defensive unit.

James Tarkowski and Tendy Darikwa offer viable defensive alternatives. The recently culled Danny Lafferty from the Northern Ireland squad still needs to establish his credentials. It is rumoured that Kevin Long may be on his way to newly promoted Championship side Barnsley.

Jones, Marney, Ulvestad, Arfield and Boyd need to be reinforced with quality midfield player additions. The Clarets seem short of options in the wide berths following the departures of veterans Taylor and Dyer.

Vokes and Gray will in all likelihood struggle to repeat their 40 goal Championship strike partnership heroics in the top flight. Hennings, Jutkiewicz, Chris Long are all untried at the top level. Ashley Barnes provides the only tried and tested alternative to Sam Vokes and Andre Gray.

If Burnley are to survive in the top flight, three words spring readily to mind. Strengthen, strengthen and strengthen. (TEC).