This article is part of Football League World’s ‘Terrace Talk’ series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Scott Parker has been offered selection advice ahead of Burnley’s trip to Championship newcomers Oxford United on Saturday afternoon, with three changes cited as the best course of action at the Kassam Stadium.

Burnley were tipped among the favourites to achieve promotion following their relegation from the Premier League in the previous campaign, and have made a strong start to realising those ambitious by winning four of their opening six encounters.

No Championship team has outscored the Clarets’ average of 2.2 goals per match, and their only defeat to date came away to second-placed Sunderland in the third game of the new second-tier season.

Burnley have claimed maximum points from their last two fixtures, clinching a Luca Koleosho-inspired victory away to promotion rivals Leeds United after September’s international break before sparking a second-half turnaround to see off Portsmouth in a 2-1 victory at Turf Moor on Saturday.

Burnley had been trailing to the newly-promoted Championship side, who are one of just two sides yet to seal victory in the Championship after six attempts.

However, goals in the final 30 minutes from Jeremy Sarmiento and Josh Brownhill ensured yet another victory for Scott Parker, who may have some bold calls to make heading into this weekend’s journey down to high-flying Oxford.

Scott Parker advised to make three changes for Oxford United versus Burnley

Parker has been handed advice on his selections, which are sure to be taking place over the coming days in preparation for Saturday afternoon’s affair.

Football League World’s Burnley fan pundit Nathan Rogers has called for summer signing Sarmiento to receive his first start as a Clarets player in place of Jaidon Anthony, while Josh Laurent and Zian Flemming have also been tipped to make the starting 11 over Hannibal Mejbri and Lyle Foster respectively.

“The [first] change I’d make for this weekend’s game against Oxford away would probably be to give Anthony a break, put him on the bench, and get Sarmiento in,” Nathan explained to Football League World.

“He came on around the 60-minute mark against Portsmouth and he changed the game completely, he looked really sharp and dynamic like he had a point to prove, and he got the goal that sparked our comeback so I would bring him in to start.

“I think I would also maybe look to bring out Hannibal, he’s had a good run of games.

“But I think against a team like Oxford, he’s quite a physical player and it’s going to be a physical game so removing him from that situation and bringing him on at a later stage would be sensible, I’d put Josh Laurent in because he’s been superb for us this season.

“He’s a good ball-winner, he’s tenacious, he’s got the skills at his feet and he does everything for us really, so I’d definitely bring in Laurent for Hannibal and I’d definitely also be getting Foster out of the team.

“I think he’s been struggling this season and not playing to his potential, he’s been in and out and away on international duty with South Africa and came back a bit later, he missed the game, so I would look to get Flemming in and give him a start and run of games.

“So my three changes would be Anthony for Sarmiento, Hannibal for Laurent and Foster out for Flemming to start.”

Burnley and Scott Parker must be wary of potential Oxford United surprise

Supporters may well envisage the clash as one likely to return yet another set of three points, though Burnley must remain level-headed and avoid underestimating their upcoming opponents.

Following their promotion to the Championship via the League One play-offs last term, Oxford have emerged as one of the surprise packages across the division. Des Buckingham’s side are full of energy, confidence and attacking thrust, capable of playing through teams and hitting them on the break.

They find themselves situated ninth in the league standings but are yet to lose on home soil, where they have scored seven goals from three matches. Burnley, then, may have their work cut out.

Mark Harris has already scored four goals this season, while creative forces such as Tyler Goodrham and Ruben Rodrigues are also threats worth monitoring for the Clarets.

Burnley will be eyeing three points after marking such a rich vein of form to kickstart life back in the Championship, and rightly so. However, Oxford will provide a stern test and Parker could enhance his side’s preparations for the fixture by removing some out-of-form players from his starting lineup.