EKDAL EAGER TO GET GOING AGAIN IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE

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Centre-back looks ahead to Clarets opening game

2025-08-15T12:00:00.000Z

EKDAL EAGER TO GET GOING AGAIN IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE

Centre-back looks ahead to Clarets opening game

2025-08-15T12:00:00.000Z

Centre-back looks ahead to Clarets opening game

Hjalmar Ekdal insists he's "feeling good" ahead of Burnley's return to the Premier League.

The defender who has featured heavily in Scott Parker's side's pre-season fixtures said he's happy following his short loan spell in the Netherlands last season as he believes it's put him in a good place ready to kick off the Clarets campaign away at Tottenham Hotspur.

“It feels really good [to be back]. I came back from a loan spell last spring and the plan with that was to get game time and to get my form up again which I felt I did really. With it in mind that I’m coming back for pre-season so I can be prepared and compete. I’ve played a lot now, so I’m feeling good.”

Ekdal’s short loan spell away last season was at Dutch side FC Groningen. How valuable was the experience?

“It helps a lot. When you don’t play for half a year you get rusty quickly and when I got back the team was doing so well, I knew that it was almost impossible to get in the team and play when the guys in my position are doing so well. We agreed the best thing for me really is to play and to build up my form again. Almost regardless of where it is, as long as I play football.

“It was the Netherlands, which I really enjoyed. It was kind of a different type of life and different type of football, but it suited me really well. It contributed to me being in a good place now.”

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The Clarets kick-off their Premier League campaign on Saturday and Ekdal’s feeling positive after a productive pre-season.

“This pre-season has been really good for me and for the whole team. I think we've been training really hard preparing for the Premier League. We know that it's quite a different challenge from the Championship. It's the toughest league in the world. So, I think if we can be really well trained and really fit for the season, we are in a good position.”

Having had experience of the Premier League from last time out, Ekdal says the squad learnt lessons which he believes can help them this campaign.

“I think Scott is really prepared and experienced in this game and I think he knows what is demanded from us. He knows what it takes. He's been in the league so many times and he's also aware of what you need to do to survive in this league.

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“We have actually talked a lot about that and looked into situations, what can happen then what we have to do to survive in this league. I think from last time we were up, we obviously went down again, and I think it's a really big lesson if you can say that. But I also think we can be grateful for it because now we have experienced that already, so we're a bit more prepared and we know what to do and what not to do.”

Finally, with the countdown firmly on to Saturday’s opener at Spurs, the centre-back can’t wait to get going at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium.

“As a first game, it’s perfect. I would say play one of the big teams right away. Why not, first game anything can happen, it's a lot of nerves, a lot of adrenaline and we get to play at a fantastic stadium. I think it's a top experience to be fair and I think with them also having played Wednesday, I think we can have a slight advantage there. But like I said, you have to play every team eventually so why not begin with that? It’s good.”