Cork Ready For 'Big Week'

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Midfielder looks for positive start with points at Palace

2021-02-12T09:55:52.305Z

Cork Ready For 'Big Week'

Midfielder looks for positive start with points at Palace

2021-02-12T09:55:52.305Z

Midfielder looks for positive start with points at Palace

Jack Cork is aiming to make a flying start to what he sees as one of the biggest weeks in the Clarets' season.

Burnley go to Crystal Palace on Saturday with back-to-back games to follow against bottom-three sides Fulham and West Bromwich Albion in a crucial four-day spell at Turf Moor.

And with Sean Dyche’s men currently eight points clear of the relegation zone, Cork is determined to keep the chasing pack at arm’s length with a positive performance against 13th-placed Palace at Selhurst Park.

“We’re looking to go there and try and start what’s a big week for us with some points,” said the midfielder, who could return to action after missing the Clarets’ mid-week FA Cup exit to Bournemouth with a knock.

“It’s probably one of the biggest weeks of our season, I think.

“If we can get a win against Palace it would take a lot of pressure off and then after that you’ve got Fulham and West Brom which are huge games that you have to try and not lose at any cost.

“We’ve managed to create a little bit of a cushion at the moment and we don’t want to lose that cushion, that little gap.

“After that, our games do get a little bit tougher, so it’s a good chance for us to maybe increase that gap and stop looking below us and further up the table.

“We’ve worked hard all season to try and get to this point and take it into this week.

“Everyone knows what’s at stake and hopefully we can start it really well on Saturday.”

Cork was one of a handful of senior men who didn’t feature against Bournemouth as the Clarets missed out on a place in the FA Cup quarter-finals.

His absence made it half-a-dozen players on the injured list, while Dyche rested a number of others to avoid the risk of further injuries ahead of such a potentially pivotal run.

The visit of West Brom on Saturday-week will complete a spell of 12 games in six weeks for the Clarets, whose schedule then returns to weekend duty for games against Tottenham, Arsenal and Everton.

And despite the disappointment of no further Cup progress, Cork told Clarets+ he believes the Clarets’ squad has coped well with the hectic league programme to keep themselves in a healthy position.

“It’s been really tough. It’s stretched a lot of squads,” added Cork, who has started the last three league games after recovering from the fractured foot he sustained in a victory at Crystal Palace in June.

“If you look at Palace in the week, they had six subs, Sheffield United had six subs (against Chelsea).

“A lot of teams – especially those that don’t have the financial backing of the bigger clubs – are finding it difficult to fill those squads.

“It’s one of those things but anyone who has come in for us at any stage has been great and made a difference and made a point they want to be selected.

“It’s shown the strength of the squad and how up for wanting to stay in this division everyone is.”