Bardsley Wants Another Chapter To Cup Story

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Defender hungry to return as Clarets aim to reach round four

2021-01-08T17:19:50.646Z

Bardsley Wants Another Chapter To Cup Story

Defender hungry to return as Clarets aim to reach round four

2021-01-08T17:19:50.646Z

Defender hungry to return as Clarets aim to reach round four

Phil Bardsley hopes he gets the chance to launch an FA Cup run as the defender prepares himself for another tilt at the trophy.

Bardsley hasn’t featured for the Clarets since early October after an enforced spell out with Covid.

The right-back admits the illness took its toll before a couple of minor injuries and the form of Matthew Lowton in the Clarets’ impressive Premier League run further delayed a possible return to action.

But Bardsley has worked hard to get back to full fitness and with a couple of training-ground games under his belt is in contention to face MK Dons in the third round of the Cup at Turf Moor on Saturday.

“I don’t know what side the manager’s going to select but it would be nice to get some minutes,” he said.

Bardsley Wants Another Chapter To Cup Story - Image 1

“It’s been a while since I’ve played due to the illness and then a few niggles along the way.

“It would be nice to get some minutes and hopefully I can do that and do myself justice to put myself in contention for the Premier League fixtures and we can get through to the next round.

“It’s good for the players who haven’t been playing regular football. The lads have been doing brilliant in the league.

“It’s important for the lads who haven’t had a lot of minutes to get fit and show what they can do.

“When the chance is there you must grasp it with both hands and I’m sure the lads who haven’t played many minutes will be looking to do that on Saturday, if selected.”

Bardsley’s relationship with the FA Cup stretches back to the start of his career at Manchester United when his second senior appearance saw the rookie defender come off the bench in a 3-0 fourth-round win at Northampton Town 17 years ago this month.

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United were twice Cup winners during Bardsley’s stay at Old Trafford and the Scotland international then twice helped Sunderland reach the quarter-finals.

The Clarets haven’t passed the fourth round during Bardsley’s three previous seasons at Turf Moor – twice going out to perennial silverware winners Manchester City – and the 35-year-old is yet to play in the competition for Burnley.

But if he gets the nod to make a ‘debut’ against the League One Dons, Bardsley hopes it can be the first of a run of games in a competition that has re-ignited his passion.

“To be brutally honest I think the spark went out of it for a couple of years,” he added.

“But I think that’s come back and hopefully for us we can go on a bit of a run. It’s been a while to be honest.

“It’s a great opportunity for lower league teams to pit their wits against Premier League outfits.

“We’re under no illusions, it’s going to be a tough game. They will be underdogs coming here and it will be up to us to step on the pitch with the right attitude and the right mind-set to try and get through to the next round.

“We’ve managed to pull City the last few years, which has been difficult, but hopefully this year we can get a decent run and try and get to a final.”