Burnley FC: Scott Parker is facing Josh Brownhill decision nobody saw coming | OneFootball

Scott Parker faces a huge selection dilemma when Josh Brownhill returns

Club captain, top scorer and influential in the centre of the pitch, it seems unthinkable to think that there might not be a place in the Burnley team for Josh Brownhill when he returns from injury.

But that's the dilemma Scott Parker faces when he returns from an injury sustained in the Leeds United game, as the form of those filling in for him means that they could now possess the shirt.

Burnley have won three of their four games since Brownhill stepped out of the team, which is more than they'd won in the last six games when he was in it, so his return will provide a massive selection headache for Parker.

It's hard to believe that the former Fulham boss won't bring his skipper back into the team, but as the old footballing adage goes, you don't change a winning team.

Whether Parker goes against the grain or not remains to be seen, and although it's a nice headache to have as you can never have too many good players, he knows the decision he makes could ultimately shape Burnley's season.

It seems incomprehensible to think that Brownhill could very soon find himself on the substitute bench, but that's a very real possibility when he returns given the form of those now in the team.

Josh Cullen will probably always be an ever-present when he's available, Josh Laurent is the enforcer alongside him and then Hannibal is given the freedom to roam and get on the ball.

The trio works well, and that was evidenced on Tuesday night when the Clarets turned in arguably their performance of the season in a 2-0 win over Hull City, with Brownhill's replacement, Hannibal, arguably the star of the show.

It's a difficult situation that Parker finds himself in, as leaving Brownhill on the bench would be a huge managerial call, not least because he's the club captain and top scorer.

Naturally, it's a problem most other managers in the league would like to have, but for Parker it could be season-defining – if he gets it wrong, it could cost them promotion.

The fact Brownhill would never have been dropped in the first place were it not for his injury suggests he should come straight back in, but having found a nice balance to the team, Parker surely won't want to upset the XI.

Hannibal has come into his own in Josh Brownhill's position

It's taken him quite a while to get going at Turf Moor, but Burnley fans are now finally starting to see what they expected of Hannibal, who has come into his own in a slightly deeper role.

At the start of the season, Parker played him in a far more advanced role and the games were passing him by, but now he's dropped deeper, he's starting to become more effective.

Although he doesn't bring the same goals that Brownhill does, he's a better player when it comes to technical ability and linking play, and Burnley have looked a more balanced team with him in that position.

He should have done enough to keep the shirt now, but internally he'll be concerned that he could find himself back on the bench once Brownhill is fit again.