Wood’s departure a deliverance? Vydra finally has a chance to prove himself

A mainstay of the offensive line left Burnley in the winter transfer window. Chris Wood headed to Newcastle, significantly reducing Burnley’s chances of salvation. On the other hand, for Matej Vydra, Wood’s departure means the departure of a big competitor.

Chris Wood has built a solid position at Burnley during his five-year tenure. He scored 53 goals and kept Burnley in the Premier League. Every year, at a crucial part of the season, he has scored and secured The Clarets’ salvation.

This season, however, it was no glory. Wood only scored three league goals in the first half of the season, yet he was the clear number one choice for coach Sean Dyche. Jay Rodriguez (0+1 in the league), another tidy hitter, played alongside him most often.

But in the winter transfer window, Wood was bought by Newcastle for €30 million, killing two birds with one stone. He plugged the hole in the attack left by the injured Callum Wilson and took a key player away from a competitor in the fight for salvation.

Dyche will have to look for a new alternative in attack. In recent rounds the position of second striker has been occupied by the experienced Aaron Lennon, while in other seasons the reasonably productive Ashley Barnes has been looking for a goal saliva so far this season.

Matěj Vydra should also get more playing time. Clarets fans often don’t understand why he doesn’t get a proper chance. Unlike Wood, Rodriguez and Barnes, he excels in other aspects, speed, dynamics and active pressing.

Burnley are the biggest candidates for relegation to the Championship after the transfer of a key man, but Dyche knows how to work with that position. Will he pull an ace out of his sleeve in the shape of Vydra, or stick with his old-fashioned 4-4-2 with two tall strikers?

Source: Transfermarket