Defender Stephen Ward insists Burnley are hungrier than ever to ensure it’s third time lucky in their quest to secure Premier League survival.

The two previous times Burnley have earned promotion to the Premier League – in 2009 and 2014 – their joy was shortlived as they were relegated back to the Championship come the end of the season.

But there is optimism that this campaign things could be different with the Clarets looking more and more like a seasoned Premier League outfit, despite sitting just three points above the relegation zone.

The Clarets face another promoted side in Middlesbrough on Boxing Day, and Ward is keen to show their rivals that they mean business this term and that they have learned from their mistakes.

WEST BROMWICH, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 21: Craig Dawson of West Bromwich Albion outjumps Stephen Ward of Burnley during the Premier League match between West Bromwich Albion and Burnley at The Hawthorns on November 21, 2016 in West Bromwich, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

Ward said: “It’s great to be playing in the Premier League. We worked very hard last year in a difficult league to get our promotion.

“I think the hunger this year is even bigger than it was last year to make sure we stay here.

“A lot of the lads had a taste of it two years ago. We probably just fell a little bit short in terms of experience and maybe that bit of quality here and there.

“I feel like we’ve rectified that and I feel there is a different hunger in the squad, and you could feel that from day one.”

Former Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan believes Alan Pardew’s comments about the Eagles’ investors played a major part in his sacking.

Pardew was dismissed as Palace boss on Thursday following a run of eight defeats in ten games and with theclub sat 17^th in the Premier League.

But despite this poor run of form Jordan was still surprised by the timing of Pardew’s sacking, with a run of four games in 12 days just around the corner.

“I am a little bit surprised,” Jordan told talkSPORT.

LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 19: Alan Pardew, Manager of Crystal Palace looks on during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Manchester City at Selhurst Park on November 19, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Stephen Pond/Getty Images)

“I am not surprised the axe has fallen, but with the games coming up, my kind of thinking was that if he doesn’t get four points from the next three then he would have trouble.

“But I feel the comments about the investors [Pardew appeared to suggest some investors had little knowledge of football] haven’t helped him, plus the fact his team has been very poor for the last 11 months now.”

Virgil van Dijk has been linked with a January move away from Southampton but his teammate Nathan Redmond hopes the centreback sticks around.

Saints have seven clean sheets and counting this season and Dutch international van Dijk has been a key part of that defensive solidity.

But with Man City rumoured to be pondering a big money bid in January, there are fears that the 25-year-old could be on his way.

And winger Redmond admits he would be a big loss to Claude Puel’s Saints side who sit seventh in the Premier League at Christmas.

“He’s one of the best centre-halves I’ve played with. His performances have spoken for themselves recently,” said Redmond.

“It’s good because if I’m playing against one of the best in the league in training, it’s only going to help me.

(Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

“He’s composed, calm on the ball, quick, athletic and he has popped up with some fantastic defensive displays. His all-round game is very strong.

“He’s a strong presence in the dressing room. He’s a great character and gets on with all the boys.”

The contribution of Claudio Yacob to West Brom’s encouraging season has not gone unnoticed by manager Tony Pulis, who has been impressed with the midfield general both on and off the pitch.

Aside from missing the Baggies’ 4-0 defeat to Manchester City in October due to suspension, Yacob has been an ever-present in the middle of the park this season.

The Argentine joined the club back in 2012 as a free agent and has gone on to establish himself as a fans’ favourite.

(Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)

He signed a new deal in September which keeps him at the Hawthorns until the summer of 2018, with the potential for another year.

And Pulis, who has worked with Yacob since the start of 2015, admitted that his player is now invaluable to the team.

“Yac has been fantastic and is a great kid around the place,” he said.

“He’s got a great sense of humour as well and he is part of a very strong group of players here.

“We’re pleased to have him. He signed a contract at the start of the year and has been a great signing for the football club.

“Being a foreign player he’s integrated so well and his English is so good now. He’s got a really dry sense of humour.”

Granit Xhaka may have cleaned up his disciplinary record of late but the Arsenal midfielder insists he is still employing a no-nonsense approach when it comes to his game.

The Switzerland international arrived at the Emirates this summer from Borussia Monchengladbach with a reputation for upsetting the referee.

During his time with the German club, he was sent off six times for club and country, collecting 48 yellow cards in the process.

(Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

However the 24-year-old appears to have learned to control his aggression in England and has now gone eight games without being booked, not that he thinks his game has become compromised.

“There are, of course, phases in the game where the line becomes blurred, but then you need to step up psychologically,” he said.

“I play with a lot of emotion because I’m a passionate guy and I play with that passion.

“I love playing that way. Sometimes you’re late onto the ball, sometimes you’re not. Sometimes you make contact with the guy when you tackle him, sometimes not. It’s a sport where individual duels are vital so I don’t see it as a problem.

“I wouldn’t change myself for anybody. I am who I am, people accept me or they don’t. I have my strengths and my weaknesses which I can try to improve upon, of course. I’m still not the finished product. I’m only 24 so I’ve got plenty of time to keep improving.”

Watford’s recent form may leave something to be desired but defender Younes Kaboul is convinced the turnaround will begin on Boxing Day.

The Hornets have lost four of their last five Premier League matches – the latest defeat being a 1-0 reverse at struggling Sunderland last weekend.

They still lie 12th in the table but are starting to be sucked towards the lower reaches of the league with just seven points now separating them from the bottom three.

But Kaboul remains confident ahead of the Boxing Day clash with suddenly-managerless Crystal Palace, with the French international refusing to push the panic button.

Photo credit: Getty Images

“No, our form doesn’t concern me,” said Kaboul. “We have a lot of confidence and we believe in ourselves.

“We can win football matches, because we are a good footballing side.

“We just need to win on Boxing Day. We’ve got quality enough in the group and team to win games, so we are confident about winning.

“It’s a massive game for us because we lost our last two games which isn’t good enough for the club.

“It’s very disappointing and also for the fans who travelled all the way up to Sunderland for the game.

“We’re very grateful for that and we need to make sure we’re back on track for Monday.”

Sunderland boss David Moyes has backed Adnan Januzaj to become the team’s match-winner.

The mercurial Belgian has produced several improved performances for the Black Cats in recent weeks, with the Wearsiders having won four of their last seven league games.

Moyes revealed that he has told Januzaj, on loan from Manchester United, to alter his body language on the pitch, with the playmaker having come under fire in the past for an apparent lack of effort.

However, the former United and Everton manager added he had great belief that the 21-year-old will start to win games for the side.

Sunderland play United on Boxing Day, with Januzaj ineligible to play against his parent club.

Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images

“I told him he had to look as if he was running a bit harder,” said Moyes. “Sometimes his body language gives you the feeling that he’s not.

“But he’s capable of winning games, he’s not quite doing it yet, but I have great belief he will.

“He’s got the ability to do it and score goals, he had a couple of one against one opportunities, instances you feel you would fancy to get in a shot.”

“I need Adnan, Fabio Borini, Victor Anichebe and Jermain Defoe, those are the players that need to get us the goals.

“We need to stop them at the other end but those are the ones that we need to get us the goals.

“Jermain has a very good record but if he doesn’t score then who can win us a game with another one?”

Jurgen Klopp will be delighted to welcome back Daniel Sturridge and Emre Can for the Christmas fixtures as both continue their return from injury.

The pair were both brought on for the final ten minutes of the Merseyside derby, which Liverpool won 1-0, after being sidelined through injury.

And Sturridge wasted no time in making an impact as his shot hit the post and rebounded to Sadio Mane to score the 94th-minute winner.

With the Reds welcoming Stoke City and Manchester City to Anfield before the end of the year and travelling to Sunderland on January 2, their return is a big boost for the German manager.

(Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Klopp is pleased to have the extra options going into the congested festive period which he hopes will allow him to successfully rotate his squad ahead of their FA Cup fixture against Plymouth Argyle.

“It was very important,” he said. “Daniel trained only two times, so we were really waiting for the moment when we could use him, the (Everton) game was for him at the end.

“Twice training is not the biggest intensity.

“It was pretty much the same for Emre, who trained a little bit longer and didn’t have a long break.

“It’s very important they are back. We need these options to change some things in and around a game. It’s good.”

Hull City have more than enough quality to pick up points during the festive period, according to midfielder Markus Henriksen.

The Norwegian international, 24, has played 11 times for the Tigers since joining on loan from Dutch side AZ Alkmaar in August.

Mike Phelan’s side face a tough Christmas schedule, with fixtures against Everton, Manchester City and West Bromwich Albion all coming before January 2.

However, Henriksen is confident the Tigers, currently bottom of the Premier League, can pick up enough points to ease their relegation worries.

Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images

“This season we have not got the points against the teams we should have got points against, so we have to take some against the big teams in the next few games,” Henriksen said.

“We have the quality to do it. It’s going to be tough, but you will see what we are made of in the games coming up.

“We hope to take some points this Christmas. We have changed the formation the last two weeks, we have had more possession and are creating more chances and that does make a difference, but at the same time that doesn’t make it better when the points aren’t coming.

“I think Christmas games are one of the Premier League’s things that is good.

“It’s a lot of matches and it is a lot of opportunity for us to take points. It’s like when you lose one game you have got like two or three more straight away to get that win and I think that’s good.”

Havard Nordtveit insists West Ham United simply have too much quality to be worrying about the Premier League relegation battle.

The Hammers currently sit 13th in the table, five points above the drop zone but are on a three-game unbeaten run in the league that includes successive home 1-0 victories last week.

The versatile Norwegian – formerly of Arsenal – has not yet nailed down a permanent spot in the Hammers starting XI.

But with the depth of quality in the squad available to Slaven Bilic, the holding midfielder – who has also lined up at right-back for the Hammers this season – is confident his time will come as they climb the standings.

“Hopefully with the Christmas time coming and so many games, we can take as many points as possible and get out of the lower part of the table, because the quality in this team is much better than that it says in the table,” he said.

(Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)

“I’m always positive. I was born positive, so I’m working hard every day.

“The games I’ve played, I know I can play much better, so I’ll take it game-by-game and day-by-day and hopefully I can be a good player for this club.”