Burnley have just seen their “best version” of Armando Broja according to Clarets boss Scott Parker.

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The 24-year-old was handed a surprise first league start for Burnley for their trip to Newcastle United last weekend, having previously only appeared off the bench.

It was a big call from Parker to drop Flemming, who had bagged four goals in his last six games prior to the game.

Broja led the line well though and battled hard, even when the Clarets were reduced to 10 men after Lucas Pires’ straight red just before half-time.

Assessing the striker’s display, Parker said: “I was really pleased for him, really, really pleased for him. I think it was the best version we've seen of Armando.

“He got his first start and I thought he was top, to be fair. At the start of the game at 11v11, he was a platform for us, he brought something to us – and then even with 10 men, when that energy bar could slowly whittle away at that moment, as a number nine up there on his own and you can lose heart because you're up against a cause there.

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Armando Broja tangles with Tino Livramento. Photo: Kelvin Lister-Stuttard

“But again, he was superb, so I was really pleased for him.”

Bringing in Broja was just one of a host of big calls from Parker at St James’ Park, with the Burnley boss also dropping Quilindschy Hartman for the first time this season.

Jaidon Anthony was also dropped alongside Flemming, while the lesser-spotted Mike Tresor was named on the bench for the first time this season.

When asked if it was a case of rotation following a busy week, or switching things up amid Burnley’s losing run, Parker replied: “A bit of both, really.

“It felt like we needed to probably freshen things up a little bit after a busy week. But I also just felt that this game against a team that Newcastle are, a man-be-man team that are aggressive in the first phase, we were going to need to exploit the spacing behind, so we needed that sort of profile of player. Like I said, it worked well.”

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