Burnley Football Club

Pieters: We Will Respond

Erik Pieters has vowed the Clarets will bounce back in Saturday’s Premier League fixture against West Ham United at Turf Moor.

The left-back feels the crunch match against the Hammers will be a good opportunity to return to winning ways following three straight defeats.

And the Dutch defender is confident of a return to form against Manuel Pellegrini’s side, who have only taken two points from their last five games.

Pieters said: “When you play West Ham at home, you have a chance at three points and I think this one just before the international break is an important one.

Brady Back For Irish Crunch Clash

Robbie Brady returns to the Republic of Ireland squad for their do-or-die clash against Denmark this month.

The Clarets' wide man has missed the last two international breaks through injury and will look to make his mark against the Danes as he did in his last outing for his country, when he scored a late goal in a 2-0 victory over Gibraltar.

Ireland need to beat the Danes in order to claim top spot in Group D, as a similar points tally will mean the Irish top the group, due to head-to-head record.

A trio of the Clarets' Republic of Ireland internationals have been confirmed in Mick McCarthy’s finalised squad, with Jeff Hendrick and Kevin Long also available for the qualifier and the upcoming friendly against Burnley teammate Chris Wood next Thursday.

PREVIEW: Burnley v West Ham United

The Clarets again face West Ham at Turf Moor looking for a win to restore their momentum.

Last season it took a 2-0 home victory over the Hammers - and a first Premier League goal from Dwight McNeil - at the turn of the year to launch Burnley’s run to survival.

This meeting is not as critical as Sean Dyche’s men have already picked up the same number of points as they had at the half-way point of last season.

And although the Clarets will want to end their three-match losing run going into the international break against a West Ham side experiencing their own dip in form, Dyche isn’t comparing the fixtures.

Woods Looking To Clip The Owls' Wings

Tony Philliskirk’s side are back on home turf for the first time in just under a month, as they host Sheffield Wednesday in the U18 Professional Development League at the Barnfield Training Centre.

And young Clarets midfielder Ben Woods is looking forward to playing back at home soil as the in-form side look to keep the good performances going.

Woods said: “It’s nice to be back at home. Sheffield Wednesday won it last year so they will be a strong opposition.

“We played they’re under 17s recently and they weren’t too bad, so hopefully, if we play how we are playing then we can continue that against them, because we have to play well if we want to win, and if we do that then hopefully we will get the three points and carry on our run.