It has been a successful season for Burnley so far across all fronts, and following a win at Birmingham at the weekend, they are well in the mix to win promotion via the top two at the end of the season.

Manager Sean Dyche has done a sterling job to get the team playing to a high level following relegation last season from the Premier League, and fans will be hoping that they have enough left in the tank to get over the finishing line.

While the clubs top players like Andre Gray, Sam Vokes, and Joey Barton have been excellent all season with their consistency, every squad has players involved who do not simply get the game time or who are not up to standard anymore.

Burnley are no different, and whether Dyche guides them to promotion, or they spend another season in the Championship, he will have to look at his squad and maybe assess a few on the periphery who might not be needed next term.

With this in mind, here are FIVE players Sean Dyche should axe in the summer........

[ffc-gallery]

PRESS THE IMAGE BELOW TO SEE THE FIVE PLAYERS!

dyche721as

[/ffc-gallery]

 

Lukas Jutkiewicz

Lukas Jutkiewicz

The big striker has struggled really to make an impact at the club, and is extremely unlikely to move one of the first choice front pair from their positions as it stands.

Only 6 appearances all season suggest he is not really part of Dyches plans, and he should be looking to move on in the summer.

Should the Clarets be promoted, then it is increasingly unlikely that Jutkiewicz will be used in the top flight with Dyche likely to strengthen further upon promotion.

The former Middlesbrough man has quality, but it may be that he has more to offer someone in the lower regions of the league, rather than vying for a place in a front two in a team challenging for the title.

Paul Robinson

robinsonnn999

The experienced goalkeeper was brought in by Dyche to simply add experience to the training field and dressing room one would think.

He is never going to play and oust number one keeper Tom Heaton, and with Matt Gilks also on the books, Robinson will be surplus to requirements.

Robinson may be kept on in a coaching role however, and if he is released, it is not to the detriment of his actual ability, just the fact that he has older now and never going to play 40 games a season, especially with Heaton in such good form.

Lloyd Dyer

dyer4

Dyer was only brought in during February, where he has yet to really make any sort of impact, making only a single appearance so far.

The former Leicester winger was a free agent, and Dyche obviously saw something in him which he thought might just add something to his sides promotion push in the final stages.

However, it hasn't worked out for Dyer, and he will surely be looking for a new club in the summer, regardless of what league the club ends up in.

Ashley Barnes

Ashley Barnes

The striker has been unlucky with injuries, with a ligament injury keeping him out of nearly all this season.

It is a bitter blow for Barnes, who has ability in front of goal and is a proven goalscorer, but Dyche could well look elsewhere, even if Barnes does return to full fitness and firing on all cylinders.

With Gray and Vokes the first choice pair, and young Rouwen Hennings making a name for himself, Barnes could find chances limited, and might be best served leaving in search of regular football.

Frederik Ulvestad

mitree9922

The Norwegian midfielder has only been at Turf Moor since last year, but has made very little impact on the promotion chasers, making only 7 appearances this season.

The midfielder is simply too good for him to break into, and if the Clarets win promotion, then they are likely to add further quality to the ranks, leaving Ulvestad further down the pecking order.

It is a shame for the Scandinavian personally, but manager Dyche has no room for sentiment when trying to guide his team to promotion, and it may be that Ulvestad is shown the door come the end of the season.