Chris Hughton says Burnley won't go down

Only promoted Fulham are below Sean Dyche’s strugglers on goal difference.

Hughton does not see the Clarets staying in trouble. “No I don’t,” he told The Argus. “By the standards of last season it has been a difficult season for them as regards results.

“There aren’t too many changes. They have a squad that’s relatively the same.

“They have a way of playing that’s relatively the same and things will kick in for them, I’m very confident of that.

“They’ve got a very good manager, a way of playing that I think over a season will get them results.

“They’ve had a difficult start by their standards but I very much expect them to improve, so I don’t see them as a team that will go down.”

Dyche has labelled Albion’s visit as a “really big game for us” after his team gave Liverpool a midweek scare before losing 3-1 at Turf Moor.

“If he has said that I understand,” Hughton said.

“On paper they have more chance of beating us than Liverpool.

“If we are playing at the Amex against a team not in the top six then we have more chance of getting a result against them, so this would be in that category.

“They would look at it as a good chance of getting a result.”

Albion left-back Gaetan Bong, likely to be among the substitutes, returns to the ground where he was booed relentlessly last season, having previously accused West Brom’s ex-Burnley striker Jay Rodriguez of racial abuse.

Hughton, asked if he has any concerns about Bong going back to Turf Moor, told The Argus: “No, not really. Certainly as regards Gaetan, he is one of the most focused players I have seen, so certainly not that.

“I think we were all disappointed with the crowd reaction last time. I don’t think that’s a reflection of the club.

“It’s a wonderful club with a wonderful history. I don’t see any issues at all.

“It’s a good period of time that has gone now and more importantly it’s about two teams playing hard enough to try to get a result.”