Burnley currently sit third in the Sky Bet Championship, with 52 points from their 29 league games.

After getting relegated from the Premier League last year, their fans would have expected a quest for the title this season. Whilst that is still on, they perhaps aren't as close to achieving it as you think.

The Clarets sit three points behind second place Middlesbrough, having played two games extra. They are also four points behind leaders Hull with one less game to play than the Tigers.

Middlesbrough went all out in this transfer window, bringing in Jordan Rhodes and Julien De Sart on permanent deals and loaning Kike Sola, Gaston Ramirez and Ritchie De Laet until the end of the season.

However, after a flurry of rumours, only George Green & James Tarkowski signed for Sean Dyche's side. Will this be enough to see Burnley back in the top flight next season? Only time will tell...

FootballLeagueWorld writer Ryan Evans takes a look at THREE players that Burnley should have signed on deadline day......

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PRESS THE IMAGE BELOW TO SEE THE 3 PLAYERS!

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Alex Pritchard

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It was believed on Sunday, the day before the deadline, that it was Burnley who were most likely to complete the loan signing of the Tottenham attacking midfielder.

The England Under-21 international has made just one substitute appearance for Spurs this season, which happened to be the last five minutes of a 0-0 draw with Everton back in August.

Growing frustrated with his lack of playing time at White Hart Lane, he understandably wanted to go on loan and Mauricio Pochettino was happy to see that happen. Whilst it looked likely he would be moving to Lancashire until the end of the season, he ended up going to the Midlands & signing for West Bromwich Albion until the end of the season instead.

Pritchard was a revelation in Brentford's amazing season last year - with 12 goals in his 45 appearances in West London, helping them to the play-off semi-finals. Pritchard, as an attacking midfielder, is able to link the play from defence to attack and is a player that would fit very nicely in Sean Dyche's XI.

The Clarets might already be suffering the consequences of not strengthening, a 1-1 draw last night with promotion rivals Sheffield Wednesday was a game they needed to win to keep the pressure on the top two.

Tom Cairney

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Probably not the most obvious selection, but as soon as the move fell down for Pritchard, they should have looked no further than to Fulham's Tom Cairney.

Cairney has impressed this season, scoring three and setting up four in his 22 Championship starts. He has also played almost everywhere along Fulham's midfield, making him a versatile and valuable asset to any Championship side.

The Scottish Under 21 international was believed to be linked with a move to Ajax in this window, although that collapsed late in January.

Cairney's amazing passing and dribbling ability is something destined for the Premier League, and his signing may have given Sean Dyche's men a major boost going into the second half of this campaign.

However, with interest in his two team mates Ross McCormack and Moussa Dembele high, it is doubtful that Slavisa Jokanovic would have wanted to consider letting one of his best players go.

Serge Gnabry

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The young German spent the first half of the season on loan at West Bromwich Albion, although rarely featured as Tony Pulis said he wasn't ready for the Premier League.

It was believe that Arsene Wenger wanted to let him leave on loan to the Championship throughout the window, with Charlton being linked on deadline day, although that soon turned out to be false rumours.

The pacy winger is a good dribbler of the ball, and has previously made ten Premier League appearances for the Gunners. He would bring that pace to Sean Dyche's men, as well as a determination to earn this Burnley side promotion in order to prove Tony Pulis wrong.

It is unlikely that Wenger would have let him out permanently, but a six month loan would have probably been more realistic, adding firepower to the Clarets' side in order to get them promoted this May.

Burnley fans, do you agree? Who do you think your side should have signed on deadline day? Let us know in the comments box below!