Nicky Hayen explains early season Burnley tinkering after fan complaints

Nicky Hayen admits he’s just as aggrieved as everyone else that he’s not been able to name a settled Burnley side.

The Clarets boss has come in for some early criticism for his tinkering, making six changes for the Middlesbrough game, a further five against Bristol City and three at Wrexham on Tuesday night.

Max Weiss is the only player to have started every league outing so far this season, while the centre-back pairing at Wrexham was the fifth different one in six games.

But Hayen is at pains to insist he has no choice due to a number of players either returning from long-term injuries, like Connor Roberts and Zeki Amdouni, or others who have barely had much recent game time.

Igor Julio, for example, made his Burnley debut at Wrexham on Tuesday night, for what was his first competitive appearance since November last year.

“He actually played a good game,” Hayen said.

“He played 12 minutes in pre-season for Brighton and then the last game was in November. So again, this is reality.

“We have to be careful with players, because game after game after game, if you didn't play for almost two years, you play one game or a few games in two years, then you have to also protect your players.

“And that's why I'm also a little bit, I don't say disappointed, but you want to grow to a consistent team also with 11 players, like starters. But because of the lack of fitness you have to change.

“You have to protect players, because otherwise you see also, Jacob ]Bruun Larsen] was injured also today [against Wrexham]. Anel [Ahmedhodzic] was sick. He was on the bench, actually he started, but he was sick, so everything comes together and that's very unfortunate.”

Amdouni’s goal against Wrexham was his first for Burnley since 2024, having spent lengthy time out injured after his season-long loan spell at Benfica.

“It's really important, but not only the goal,” Hayen added.

“The way how he was also involved into the game was really good and you see he's a player with a lot of quality and step by step it will come.

“It's good that you mentioned it, because he didn't play for a long time. I can tell you, for example, these are no excuses, but these are reasons.

“If you see that Ugo Raghouber played 800 minutes last season, and he's already now on 500 in six games, so this is just the reality that we're in at the moment.

“Step by step we will grow as a team. Today was a step in the right direction and this is what we want to see more.”