The race for Premier League survival is heating up, and at Turf Moor, a familiar face is edging closer to a dramatic comeback. Burnley striker Sam Vokes, a hero of their promotion campaign, is on the cusp of a first-team return after a grueling eight-and-a-half-month absence. However, as our analysts at Mostbet have observed, his path back into the starting eleven is now blocked by the red-hot form of teammate Ashley Barnes, creating the kind of selection dilemma managers dream of.
The Long Road Back for a Clarets Hero
For Sam Vokes, the journey back has been a test of patience and resilience. The 25-year-old Wales international suffered a devastating blow in March of last season, rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee during a match against Leicester City. At the time, his prolific partnership with Danny Ings, which yielded 47 goals, was the bedrock of Burnley’s attacking strategy and a key reason for their ascent to the top flight. Vokes himself was instrumental, netting 21 goals in the promotion-winning Championship season.
Manager Sean Dyche has been carefully managing his star striker’s rehabilitation. “He’s had eight-and-a-half months out and we’ve got to be mindful of that when you’re talking about true fitness and true ability to play in the first team,” Dyche recently stated. Vokes has been building match sharpness with the development squad, completing two full games with another scheduled, a clear sign he is in the final phase of his recovery. Dyche confirmed Vokes is “right at the end of his transition back into the main first-team squad.”
Ashley Barnes: Seizing the Opportunity
In football, when one door closes for a player, another opens for someone else. Ashley Barnes has not just opened that door; he’s kicked it down. In Vokes‘ prolonged absence, Barnes has transformed into Burnley’s clutch performer. He has developed a knack for scoring critical, match-winning goals, the most recent being the decisive strike against Southampton that propelled Burnley out of the relegation zone.
This rise in form and confidence has not gone unnoticed. Dyche now faces a genuine tactical conundrum. Does he immediately reintegrate the proven, returning hero Vokes, or stick with the in-form Barnes who is delivering points in the present? “That’s a dilemma any manager wants,” Dyche admitted with a tone that suggested he relished the challenge. He emphasized that building a squad with intense internal competition was always the goal. “We wanted a group that was demanding of each other with real true competition. I feel we’ve definitely got that.”
A Tactical Boost for the Survival Fight
This internal competition is a luxury for a club in a relegation battle. As noted by Mostbet‘s resident tactical expert, Michael Connolly, “Having two strikers of different profiles fighting for one spot raises the level of the entire squad. Vokes offers a classic target-man presence, excellent in the air and at linking play. Barnes has shown a poacher’s instinct and relentless work rate. Dyche can now tailor his approach based on the opponent.”
This depth provides Burnley with crucial flexibility for the final, tense months of the season. The “demand in the group,” as Dyche calls it, ensures no player can afford to be complacent. Vokes’ return adds another layer of quality and experience to a squad that needs every advantage it can get. “Vokesy will only add to that,” Dyche affirmed, highlighting the positive impact the returning striker will have on the training ground and in the dressing room, even if he has to wait for his chance on the pitch.
What This Means for Burnley’s Future
The situation encapsulates the modern Premier League’s demands. Squad depth and internal competition are no longer perks for the elite; they are necessities for survival. Burnley’s investment in their squad, often scrutinized from a financial perspective, is now paying dividends in the form of this healthy selection headache. Dyche’s careful management of Vokes‘ recovery, refusing to rush him, demonstrates a long-term vision that prioritizes the player’s career and the team’s stability.
For fans following on Mostbet, the message is clear: Burnley’s fight for survival just got a significant boost. Whether it’s Barnes continuing his rich vein of form or Vokes making a fairytale return to the scoresheet, the Clarets now possess more firepower and options than they have all season. In the high-stakes environment of a relegation scrap, that could make all the difference.
# Sam Vokes’ Burnley Return: A Welcome Headache for Dyche
The return of Sam Vokes is a fantastic story of perseverance, but it sets the stage for a fascinating tactical battle within Sean Dyche’s squad. With Ashley Barnes in stellar form, Burnley now boasts genuine competition for the striker role—a key ingredient for any team looking to secure its Premier League status. This internal push can only elevate the team’s performance as they navigate the crucial final fixtures. What do you think Dyche should do? Should Vokes walk back into the side, or must he earn his place from Barnes? Share your thoughts and join the conversation on Mostbet!
