Exclusive: Ashley Barnes Backs Burnley’s Double Bid for FA Cup Glory and Premier League Return

Ashley Barnes reckons Premier League chasing Burnley can mount a double assault on honours in the final months of the season.

The veteran striker hopes to increase his own contribution to the Clarets’ cause since last month’s emotional homecoming to Turf Moor from Norwich.

Two weeks after their controversial league meeting at Deepdale, Burnley return to face derby rivals Preston on Saturday for a place in the FA Cup quarter-finals.

Barnes can’t comment on the Football Association’s ongoing investigation into alleged racial abuse of Burnley midfielder Hannibal by Lilywhites’ Montenegrin star, Milutin Osmajic. But he knows a fixture that first took place in September 1888 will still be spicy enough with so much at stake.

“I don't think that's for any of us to comment on,“ confirmed Barnes who started Burnley’s previous two FA Cup victories at Reading and Southampton.

“But it's another derby and if we treat it like that then it’s going to be feisty."

“It's going to be everything that the Championship game had on it a couple of weeks ago.”

Burnley boosted their automatic promotion ambitions with a 4-0 rout of Sheffield Wednesday last Friday; victory that included a 12th successive Championship clean sheet for Scott Parker’s side.

Watford’s Kwadwo Baah was the last player to score past James Trafford in the league on December 27, 2024 while Lewis Wing netted for Reading against Vaclav Hladky in the FA Cup third round on January 11.

FA CUP FOCUS

And while a quick return to the top flight is the main goal, Barnes says the Clarets aren’t taking the Cup lightly. 

Speaking exclusively to SportsBoom.com, the 35-year-old marksman added: “It has to be up there, of course."

“It's another stepping stone to getting another win under our belt. And it is a game we're looking forward to build confidence inside the group and to keep that winning mentality.”

Burnley, who won their only FA Cup in 1914, are one of five second tier sides still on the road to Wembley. 

But with the Premier League’s top two, Liverpool and Arsenal, already out, there’s an opportunity to go still further.

“That's how you have to look at it,” agrees Barnes. “We have to go into it looking forward to progressing to the next round."

“But we must be right at it. There are no give-me's in this line of work.”

Barnes has been used sparingly in the Championship since re-signing at a club where he previously netted 67 goals in 293 appearances between 2014 and 2023.

“I'm absolutely delighted to be back,” said the experienced frontman. 

“I would love to play more minutes and help the team out when we're needing goals."

“I'm like any other young kid sat in a changing room fighting for their place."

“I have to be patient and wait for a chance. Obviously, the last couple of times I have had game time, it's been in the cup."

“So, yeah, if I can work hard on the training field, I can be selected for the cup game and go and show what I can do.”