Scott Parker, a former West Ham United goalscorer, has had a difficult managerial career in the Premier League, with only nine wins from 46 Championship matches. However, he led the Clarets to automatic promotion last season with only two defeats.
Scott Parker may be well-known to many Premier League fans as a former goalscoring hero for West Ham United, but his managing career in the top flight has been anything but plain sailing. Indeed, the 44-year-old has only won nine games as manager of a top-tier squad.
Nonetheless, after leading the Clarets to automatic promotion with only two defeats in 46 Championship games last season, he will be confident in his ability to change this negative narrative.
He will undoubtedly be aided in his efforts to keep the Lancashire club afloat if he is given a large budget to spend this summer transfer window, with a new target who previously lit up the EFL catching the eye at Turf Moor.
Burnley adds 20-year-old standout to their shortlist.
While Leeds United are rumoured to be making offers for Aaron Ramsdale and Emiliano Buendia, their fellow automatic promotion winners have not been swamped with rumours of their own.
Danny Ings has been connected with a return to the Clarets, as has Chelsea exile Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. However, a new speculation involving ex-Birmingham City player Jordan James has emerged.
Burnley are considering the now Rennes midfielder as a potential replacement for Josh Brownhill, according to journalist Alan Nixon, with the newly promoted club willing to spend £12 million to get the 20-year-old’s services.
While James could come in and replace Brownhill, given that the experienced Clarets ace is linked with a move to Everton, among other established top-flight destinations, Parker will hope that the former St. Andrew’s product can bounce off the 29-year-old well, with the youngster possibly going on to be as influential as Tom Cairney was in the heart of Parker’s midfield at Fulham.
While James could come in and replace Brownhill, given that the experienced Clarets ace is linked with a move to Everton, among other established top-flight destinations, Parker will hope that the former St. Andrew’s product can bounce off the 29-year-old well, with the youngster possibly going on to be as influential as Tom Cairney was in the heart of Parker’s midfield at Fulham.
| Cairney’s G/A numbers under Parker at Fulham | |
|---|---|
| Stat | Cairney |
| Games played | 63 |
| Goals scored | 10 |
| Assists | 4 |
| Games missed through injury | 47 |
| Sourced by Transfermarkt | |
How James may become Parker’s next Brownhill.
Despite missing 47 games due to serious injury during Parker’s reign, the much-loved Cottagers servant managed to score ten goals and four assists in 63 appearances under his techniques.
James, like Cairney, demonstrated for ex-employers Birmingham in the Championship that he has a comparable eye for hitting home an effort or assisting a teammate, prompting Rennes to sign him for a substantial £8 million cost.
In total, the 20-year-old scored 12 goals for his boyhood club in 105 games, with the Wales international hoping that a return to England could result in him becoming a Premier League established performer for Parker’s relegation-threatened side.
After all, while Cairney shone briefly under the 44-year-old’s tutelage, he had yet to establish himself in the Premier League. Now 34 years old, the Fulham veteran has 144 Premier League games under his belt, and James is expected to make similar ripples if he returns to England.
| James’ career numbers by position | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Position played | Games | Goals | Assists |
| CM | 40 | 3 | 2 |
| DM | 21 | 0 | 0 |
| AM | 16 | 3 | 1 |
| LM | 10 | 2 | 0 |
| RM | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| Sourced by Transfermarkt | |||
The table above supports the notion that James might become Parker’s next iteration of Cairney in time, with the Clarets target capable of playing all over the midfield areas, much like the Fulham captain, rather than merely providing the same goal threat as the number ten.
Journalist Josh Bunting described the 20-year-old as a “standout” young player while on the Blues’ books, so it will be interesting to watch how smoothly he transitions to the bright lights of the Premier League.
However, if there is one figure who should be able to bring out the best in James, it is Parker, who was once a wide-eyed starlet in the midst of the park, trying to cut his teeth after previously working with Cairney.
Leave a Reply