Burnley promoted to Premier League after Kompany's ambitious revamp

Burnley made an instant return to the Premier League on Friday after their 2-1 win at Middlesbrough confirmed their ascent from the Championship.

The Clarets are 19 points clear in the automatic promotion places after 39 matches and hold an 11-point cushion over second-placed Sheffield United. Ashley Barnes and Connor Roberts scored Burnley's goals at the Riverside Stadium.

This current iteration of Burnley bears few resemblances to the physical, defensive side that played under Sean Dyche in the Premier League. Manchester City icon Vincent Kompany overhauled the squad and quickly implemented a possession-based, attacking style following his appointment as manager last June, and his ambition has been rewarded.

"His work rate is unbelievable, his attention to detail is incredible," Johann Berg Gudmundsson, a survivor from last season's relegated squad, told LancsLive's Alex James and George Hodgson about Kompany in December.

"He doesn't want to be known here as a Man City legend, like he is. He's on a different path now, a managerial path, and he wants to be judged by that," Gudmundsson added.

Burnley have already collected 48 points at home this season - their total haul, home and away, was less than that in four of their six Premier League seasons before their relegation. They've scored a league-high 76 goals, with Nathan Tella - a 23-year-old attacker on loan from Southampton - weighing in with 17 strikes and four assists. Chelsea's Ian Maatsen, Manchester City's Taylor Harwood-Bellis, and Borussia Monchengladbach's Jordan Beyer have also impressed on loan.

Thirteen senior players left Turf Moor last summer - including Ben Mee, James Tarkowski, and Nick Pope - but some of those who remained, like Josh Brownhill and Jack Cork, helped forge an experienced core.

"I don't think I've seen a better (Championship team) in the last 25 years," Neil Warnock said after his Huddersfield Town were thumped 4-0 by Burnley in February.