Cork Ready For Crack At The Cup

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Midfielder hoping for win at Fulham to keep Clarets on a roll

2021-01-23T16:14:35.834Z

Cork Ready For Crack At The Cup

Midfielder hoping for win at Fulham to keep Clarets on a roll

2021-01-23T16:14:35.834Z

Midfielder hoping for win at Fulham to keep Clarets on a roll

Jack Cork wants to make his mark in the FA Cup and help the Clarets keep firing on two fronts.

Cork has cup pedigree in his blood with his father Alan a Wembley winner with Wimbledon in 1988 – a year before Jack was born.

Cork junior has had less success with a couple of runs to the last-16 the best he has shared in with Watford (when he was prevented from facing parent club Chelsea in round five) and Southampton.

Premier League status has often been the top priority for Cork’s clubs and the scenario has been similar at Turf Moor in his time as a Claret.

But with a fourth-round trip to come at top-flight rivals Fulham on Sunday – and a guaranteed fifth-round tie at home to either Bournemouth or Crawley Town for the winners – Cork hopes his luck is about to change.

Dyche Ready To Mix It Up For Cup - Image 2

“Fulham might make changes after they’ve had a few cancelled games and with a couple of big games coming up, but it will be a good test,” said the Burnley midfielder.

“We are aware of playing against them before of how good they can be.

“But we’ve seen the next two games we’ve got now and it’s a realistic opportunity for us to progress.

“If you could get through them you’d be one game away from Wembley, which would be a nice thing to do.

“I don’t think there are many of us in the team have gone that far before so it would be good to try and have another go at that. I’d like to go far in it and get somewhere close.”

It’s four years since the Clarets last reached round five of the competition – not helped in the interim period by two draws away to perennial trophy winners Manchester City.

But Cork believes Sean Dyche’s squad is equipped to mount a challenge with the quarter-finals two wins away.

Cork Ready For Crack At The Cup - Image 2

Dyche will make changes to the side that stunned champions Liverpool with a 1-0 league win at Anfield on Thursday night to move up to 16th place in the table and seven points clear of the Cottagers in the final relegation slot.

And despite a couple of knocks picked up on Merseyside, Cork is confident the Clarets have the collective strength to compete as he looks forward to a potential return to action.

The 31-year-old played his only game so far this season following almost six months out following ankle surgery in Burnley’s third-round penalty shoot-out win over MK Dons.

But he has no complaints at having to bide his time for a return to Premier League action and believes a hunger to play bodes well for the Clarets’ prospects in the cup and their quest to keep climbing the league table.

“It’s absolutely fine,” added Cork, who has been back as far as the bench on Premier League duty after barely missing a game in three years before being injured at Crystal Palace at the end of June.

Cork Ready For Crack At The Cup - Image 3

“Browny and Westy have been brilliant, Dale has done well when he’s played.

“It’s just one of those things. Without competition we probably wouldn’t be doing as well.

“It’s great to have people who are doing well and proving how good they are.

"It’s just good for the team and if we want to keep progressing we’ve got to keep signing good players and having players play well, which is what we’re doing at the minute.

“I’m just happy to be back involved. It feels like it’s been a long time, with my ankle, and I’m just hoping we have a few more cup games to play competitive football while I’m waiting.

“I think most people if it does change around will be excited to play football in our team, which is a great thing to have – people wanting to go out and play in these cup games and try and get a result.

“The bench at Liverpool was strong and I think anyone on the bench could have slotted in.

“It looks as strong as we’ve been for a long time, which is great for the league and the cup.

“We’ve got a good number of experienced players who are going to help us in the league and, hopefully, the cup.

“Fingers crossed we can all chip in and keep both runs going.”