Dougie Freedman on the Clarets' so-far-successful season and the form of Danny Ings
Ahead of Tuesday night’s local derby, Dougie Freedman says more teams should look to follow the example set by high-flying Burnley.
The Clarets are currently well in the running for an automatic promotion berth after impressing throughout the course of the season.
A number of players have impressed for Sean Dyche’s side this term, with Freedman pointing to the fact that significant foundations that were laid in place at the Turf Moor club over the last few years were now bearing fruit.
“I’m determined to make things work here,” the manager said in his pre-match press conference. “We have got a model, and it is very similar to what Burnley have done since they came down from the Premier League.
“They have signed a lot of young and hungry players, who haven’t really experienced what this club has in recent years.
“We’ve got look to do what Burnley have been doing for the last few years, signing young and hungry players like Danny Ings, Kieran Trippier and Ben Mee. These players come in on smaller wage budgets and suddenly get the team moving again.
“We’re already working on that front and I think that has shown in some of the players that have come in.
“You only have to look at the likes of Medo and Jay Spearing. Lukas Jutkiewicz has come in too, and these kinds of players are the right age. Liam Trotter is the right age and we are moving in the right direction.”
Ings is expected the lead the line for Burnley at the Reebok, and he will be looking to add to his already impressive 24-goal haul this term.
And had the manager had it his own way, Ings would have been lining up in a Bolton Wanderers jersey since the opening months of the season.
“We’ve been watching Danny a lot,” Freedman continued. “He’s someone I’ve tried to sign on a number of occasions, during my time both here at Bolton and at Crystal Palace.
“It doesn’t surprise me what Danny has done this season. He’s a very dangerous player who has that hunger to succeed.
“I felt that when we played them earlier in the season, although he scored, we kept him relatively quiet. We have a plan in place for him for Tuesday night.
“We’ll be looking to try and squeeze up on the space in which he likes to operate.”
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