Caoimhin Kelleher Misses Brentford's Premier League Clash with Burnley for Family Reason
In a significant pre-match development, Brentford goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher has been omitted from the squad facing Burnley in today's Premier League fixture at Turf Moor. The Republic of Ireland international, who has been a consistent presence since his summer transfer from Liverpool, is absent due to a joyous personal event: the birth of his child with his partner.
Manager Keith Andrews Confirms Family News
Brentford manager Keith Andrews addressed the situation before kick-off, stating, 'Caoimhin's partner had a baby. We are delighted for them and we wish them well, but he couldn't play today.' This clarification confirms that Kelleher's absence is not injury-related, offering some relief to the Bees' camp despite the setback.
Brentford's European Ambitions and Squad Adjustments
Brentford entered this match in seventh place, aiming to recover from a 2-0 defeat to Brighton last weekend and keep their hopes for European football alive. A victory against relegation-threatened Burnley could have narrowed the gap to fifth-place Chelsea to just two points. However, the team faced a major disruption with Kelleher's unavailability.
In response, Hakon Valdimarsson has been handed his first league start of the season, stepping into the goalkeeper role. Brentford made four additional changes to the lineup:
- Michael Kayode returns from injury to replace Aaron Hickey at right-back.
- Mikkel Damsgaard, Yehor Yarmoliuk, and Kevin Schade come into the midfield and attack, replacing Jordan Henderson, Keane Lewis-Potter, and Vitaly Janelt.
Burnley's Team News and Relegation Battle
Burnley, positioned 19th in the table and eight points from safety, made three changes from their impressive 1-1 draw with Chelsea last weekend. Marcus Edwards is sidelined due to an injury sustained in training on Friday, with Jacob Bruun Larsen taking his place on the wing. Lucas Pires and James Ward-Prowse also join the starting lineup, while Lesley Ugochukwu and Kyle Walker move to the bench.
Starting Lineups for the Match
Burnley Starting XI: Dubravka; Laurent, Esteve, Worrall, Humphreys; Pires, Hannibal, Ward-Prowse; Anthony, Flemming, Brunn Larsen. Substitutes: Weiss, Walker, Hartman, Ugochukwu, Foster, Florentino, Tchaouna, Ekdal, Barnes.
Brentford Starting XI: Valdimarsson; Kayode, Ajer, Van den Berg, Henry; Jensen, Yarmoliuk, Damsgaard; Ouattara, Thiago, Schade. Substitutes: Balcombe, Pinnock, Henderson, Collins, Lewis-Potter, Donovan, Furo, Bentt, Shield.
Context and Implications
This match carries high stakes for both teams. Brentford seeks to bolster their European qualification chances, while Burnley fights to escape the relegation zone. Kelleher's absence, though for a positive family reason, introduces an element of uncertainty for Brentford's defensive setup. The performance of stand-in goalkeeper Valdimarsson will be closely watched, as Brentford aims to secure a crucial away victory against a determined Burnley side under manager Scot Parker.
