Burnley vs Stoke City: Championship Preview, Gameweek 12, 2022

Burnley have begun life back in the second tier well, with Vincent Kompany's ball retention-focused style winning over fans almost instantly.

Despite being one of the league's highest scorers, The Clarets have struggled to close out games in recent weeks - meaning they have drawn six of their 11 league games so far.

They sit fourth in the table with 18 points after a 1-1 draw at Cardiff City last time out.

Stoke City’s form has been inconsistent, with one win, two draws and two losses in their previous five games.

Alex Neil's men followed two clean sheets in a row with a 4-0 home defeat to Watford last weekend.

The Potters are 17th in the Championship, with 12 points to their name.

Team news

Burnley

The hosts remain without summer acquisition Scott Twine as he continues to recover from a muscle tear picked up on the opening day against Huddersfield Town.

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Darko Churlinov is sidelined for another month and Kevin Long is lacking match fitness meaning both remain absent.

Ashley Westwood is a long-term absentee after picking up a serious ankle injury in April.

Stoke

Alex Neil has remained tight-lipped over returning members of his squad, with Jordan Thompson (cheek), Josh Tymon (ankle), Sam Clucas (hamstring), Gavin Kilkenny (groin) and Jacob Brown (quad) all sidelined but "a day closer" to returning according to Neil.

Nick Powell did not feature against Watford on Sunday, so looks unlikely to play a part despite the unknown nature of his injury.

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Harry Souttar is back in full training, but the nature of his long-term ACL injury means he is unlikely to be picked in a matchday squad yet.

Likely lineups

Burnley (4-2-3-1)

Muric; Roberts, Harwood-Bellis, Taylor, Maatsen; Cork, Cullen; Gudmundsson, Brownhill, Tella; Rodriguez.

Stoke (3-5-2)

Bursik; Wilmot, Flint, Fox; Sterling, Baker, Laurent, Smallbone, Tymon; Gayle, Campbell.

Ones to watch

Jay Rodriguez

Now a veteran of English football, Rodriguez began his career at Burnley in 2007 after growing up in the town and coming through the Clarets' youth ranks. He made his name at Southampton, scoring 26 goals in 104 Premier League appearances from 2010 to 2017.

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A productive two seasons at West Brom took him back to Burnley in 2019, and despite his scoring slowing down in the Premier League, he has found his feet back in the second tier this season. So far, he is the Clarets' leading goal scorer with five goals in nine league games.

Lewis Baker

27-year-old Baker has quickly made himself one of City's most important players after arriving on a free from Chelsea in January of this year. A combative midfielder, he scored eight goals in the second half of last season for the Potters as he made an instant impact at his new permanent home.

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His great form saw him named club captain this summer, and he has again been vital this season with four goals and two assists after not missing a minute of league action so far.