Lancashire Telegraph

Parker guided the Clarets to promotion at the first time of asking last term, only missing out on the Championship title on goal difference.

It has been another busy summer at Turf Moor, with nine new faces arriving in addition to the loans that were made permanent.

“We have worked hard to be fair. It has been a six, seven-week pre-season and we have put a lot of demands on the team," Parker told a press conference.

“You never really know sitting in this position until the season starts, and no doubt as the season gets going you are always improving.

“But I think we are in a great place considering where we are. It has been a large element of what we have done in pre-season.

“Most of my pre-seasons are like that - trying to get us up to the best physical shape we can be in – and the numbers suggest that.

“My eyes suggest that when I'm watching us train and where we currently are as a group, so we are in a good place.”

Martin Dubravka, Lesley Ugochukwu and Armando Broja were all added to Parker’s squad last week ahead of the big kick-off.

All three have Premier League experience and the Clarets chief believes that is important as the club aims to re-establish itself in the top flight.

“It is crucial, the balance of a squad going into the Premier League,” he continued. “I think there are large parts as a coach that you are always trying to put a real good balance on it.

“Experience comes with that, players who have been in the division and understand what it looks like a little bit.

“It was a young squad last year and it's a young squad this year, so these players who have an understanding of what this league demands and what it looks like is crucial for us. I am delighted we have managed to get some of these over the line really.”

Parker didn’t rule out further incomings before the end of the window and also expects some departures as the Clarets look to trim their bloated squad.

“There are areas we're looking at,” he confirmed. “As always, these transfer windows can bring their challenges.

“There are players who you want to try and bring in, there are areas of the squad you want to constantly improve.

“But there are a lot of factors and variables that go with that really. Like I said, we tried to do some business early, which we did, and we are very happy with that.

“We have a big squad at the moment, so no doubt that some will be leaving as well. Over the coming weeks of the window, wea re looking to try and do some more business to strengthen us even more.”

It is a tough start against Parker’s former club, Spurs, who appointed Thomas Frank as their head coach over the summer.

When asked how different he expects Tottenham to look this season, the Burnley boss replied: “There are definitely differences there in the small sample size.

“The pre-season has suggested some different things and some tactical elements which I think Thomas is maybe looking at, and in last night's game [against PSG] as well.

“There are certainly some key things that have changed, which we have noticed. A very good side with a very good coach, and we understand the demands of this game and the challenge that we face.

“But it is one, as always, we will be prepared for and give the best version of ourselves to try and get a result.”

Parker is not the only member of the camp with Spurs connections. Kyle Walker and Marcus Edwards are both gearing up to face their former club.

Edwards left Tottenham in 2019 to test himself in Portugal, returning to English football in January to help Burnley get over the line in the promotion race.

Parker worked with the winger in his younger years and reckons he is now ready to show the Premier League what he can do.

“Marcus is one of the players here who has probably dipped his foot in the Premier League when he was at Spurs, went off on his way and got some experiences abroad, which I think did him no end of good,” he insisted.

“I worked with Marcus as a young player, probably immature at certain moments, and fair play to him.

“He had the bravery to go abroad in a different environment, a different culture and he's done very well. This year, Marcus’ qualities are there for everyone to see really.

“For sure, he is going to be a better version of himself than when he was a young, tender age at Spurs. I am hoping he does what I know he can do this year.”

Walker has put pen to paper over a two-year deal at Turf Moor to play under Scott Parker, who he played alongside at Tottenham Hotspur earlier in his career.

The 35-year-old has had a remarkable career for club and country, winning six Premier League titles, two FA Cups and one Champions League. He has been named in the Premier League Team of the Tear on four occasions.

Walker has won 96 England caps to date and is still hungry for more with a World Cup on the horizon next summer.

"I'm delighted to be here," he said. "When I spoke to Scott and heard about his plans for next season, it was an opportunity I jumped at.

"He's done an amazing job here, guiding the club back to the Premier League with a 100-point haul, and now we're looking forward, together, at being back in the greatest league in the world.

"Burnley had a tremendous campaign last season, built on an incredible defensive record, and I can't wait to come in and add my experience and quality to what looks an exciting squad."

The defender began his career at Sheffield United, playing against the Clarets in the 2009 play-off final at Wembley.

Walker's impressive performances saw him snapped up by Tottenham Hotspur, where he established himself as one of the best defenders in the country.

He then made the move to Manchester City, where he took his game to new heights including the Premier League, Champions League and Super Cup treble in 2023/24.

Walker spent the second half of last season on loan at Italian giants AC Milan and now arrives at Turf Moor as the Clarets prepare for life back in the top flight.

Tottenham Hotspur Assistant, Ryan Mason, has penned a three-year deal to replace the former Rovers boss. The Baggies sacked Mowbray after they failed to make the Championship play-offs.

Mason has been identified as his successor and has decided to leave his role as part of Ange Postecoglou's backroom staff to take his first senior management role. He'd been part of the coaching team at Spurs for seven years under various managers.

"This is a huge club with a fantastic infrastructure and an incredible fanbase, and I am excited about what we can achieve together," Mason said after being unveiled.

"Having spoken at length to the board and those at the club I am convinced that Albion is the perfect place for me to be and I can't wait to get started.

"I will bring with me a huge amount of enthusiasm, dedication and ambition, and look forward to a positive future together at such a fantastic club."

Nigel Gibbs, who joins from Reading, has been named Mason's assistant, with Sam Pooley coming in from Rangers as the club's first-team coach and head of performance.

More Championship jobs could be snapped up this week with Hull City close to appointing Bosnian boss Sergej Jakirovic. He is leaving Turkish outfit Kayserispor after half a season to take the gig in East Yorkshire.

After flirting with relegation when the 48-year-old took charge in January, Jakirovic moved the club well away from danger to the relative comfort of 13th place, but is now heading for his first job in English football. It is a done deal, though Hull have to wait until a visa is secured which won't be until the end of the week at the earliest.

Liam Manning's move from Bristol City to Norwich remains ongoing, with legalities being finalised. When that is complete, only Queens Park Rangers and the Robins will have vacancies for next season, though Leicester City may still choose to replace Ruud van Nistelroy and Danny Rohl's position at Sheffield Wednesday seems untenable.

Werner was replaced at half-time of Thursday’s 1-0 win over AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League after another mixed display where he squandered a gilt-edged chance in the 27th minute.

RB Leipzig loanee Werner recently deputised for injured captain Son Heung-min, a doubt for Sunday’s trip to Crystal Palace with muscle soreness, but has not scored in his last 16 appearances for Spurs.

“It happens to all of us,” Kulusevski insisted after Tottenham’s seventh victory in eight matches.

“Sometimes better games, sometimes a little bit worse.

“I love Timo as a guy. He won the Champions League, we can’t forget that. I respect him a lot. We are there for him and we are there for everybody, everyone improving together.”

Tottenham head coach Ange Postecoglou will continue to try and restore Werner’s confidence, but has acknowledged they need more from the ex-Chelsea forward.

He said: “We are talking to Timo constantly.

“We understand he is lacking some confidence at the moment and everyone has been working hard at that, but with all these things, ultimately it’s incumbent on him to use as much of the support he’s got around here to get himself out of it.

“Our role in that is to provide that support whether that’s internally or externally, whatever he needs.

“Obviously it’s then up to him to try to use that to get him back to the levels where he wants to be and where he can contribute for us.

“Like I said, with all the players what we try to do is provide an environment where should they need help, it’s readily available.

“We do need output and that’s the key part. Obviously when Mikey (Moore) was on with Brennan (Johnson), we were a threat on both wings and we were getting outcomes from it.

“We didn’t score but three or four really good chances came from it and we need that to happen with the way we play.

“Whilst the general play is important and Timo has done well, we still need more in that front third and we got it in the second half.”

The poor form of Werner leaves Postecoglou with a dilemma if Son, who has muscle soreness, fails to recover in time to face Palace.

Moore caught the eye against AZ on his second start for Tottenham and was likened to Neymar by James Maddison following a series of outstanding runs in the second half.

The Spurs academy graduate only turned 17 in August, but Kulusevski feels he will flourish under Postecoglou.

Kulusevski said: “Mikey Moore did really well and created some chances for us.

“The second half was very impressive. Really, really good from him. We need him and it was really good to see him doing that.

“The crowd should (love him). It’s not easy to come from the academy to the first team, so it’s good that they give him the praise he deserves.”

Kulusevski is only 24 but Tottenham’s player of the season so far and accepted he is the elder statesman alongside teenagers Moore, Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall, Wilson Odobert and Will Lankshear.

“It’s strange but it’s lovely because now I can help them. I know they look up to us older players so we try to help them as much as we can,” Kulusevski said.

“Things are going well but I always want more. We have to improve a lot. We can’t look forward.

“We’ve won seven out of eight but we have to challenge each other to get better. It’s not enough, we have to win every game.”

The 19-year-old arrived at Turf Moor from Troyes 12 months ago and scored four times in 33 matches last term as the Clarets were relegated from the top flight.

Odobert became the club's youngest Premier League goalscorer when he struck in a 4-1 defeat against Chelsea last October.

He also netted against Crystal Palace and Fulham, earning rave reviews for his performances on the left flank and through the middle despite a tough season for the Clarets.

The French Under-21 international was on target in the 4-1 win at Luton Town on Monday night as Scott Parker made a winning start to his Burnley tenure.

He now returns to the top flight with Spurs, who are aiming to build on last season's fifth-place finish.

An official statement read: "The club would like to wish Wilson all the best and thank him for his efforts during his time at Turf Moor."

Odobert has put to pen over a deal running until 2029 with the London outfit and will wear the number 28 shirt.

Ange Postecoglou's side kick off the campaign with a trip to the King Power Stadium to take on newly-promoted Leicester City on Monday night.

Spurs have also brought in the likes of Dom Solanke and Archie Gray this summer from Bournemouth and Leeds respectively.