PLAYED FOR BOTH: ASHLEY WESTWOOD

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Ahead of Sunday’s match with Aston Villa we caught up with the former Clarets and Villa midfielder

2023-08-24T17:00:00.000Z

PLAYED FOR BOTH: ASHLEY WESTWOOD

Ahead of Sunday’s match with Aston Villa we caught up with the former Clarets and Villa midfielder

2023-08-24T17:00:00.000Z

Ahead of Sunday’s match with Aston Villa we caught up with the former Clarets and Villa midfielder

Ashley Westwood believes that Sunday’s fixture between his two former sides is going to be ‘a very interesting game’ and a good test for the Clarets at Turf Moor.

The Nantwich-born midfielder spent seven seasons at Turf Moor making 181 appearances before departing for the MLS and Charlotte FC in January.

Prior to joining the Clarets in 2017, Westwood played at Villa Park for five years where the 33-year-old featured 162 times.

Speaking ahead of this weekend’s clash, with the full in-depth interview available in the ‘TURF’ matchday programme, the MLS star said: “It’s going to be a very interesting game. It’s a good test for Burnley, I think.

“If Burnley can play like they did against City I can see them winning their first game of the season. I hope they do. I’m still a Burnley fan, I’m still Burnley through and through!”

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The midfielder added: “I watched it last Friday, I thought they were incredible, the scoreline wasn’t what it suggested at all.

“Manchester City are arguably the best team in the world and I thought the way Burnley pressed them they got it spot on. I was very, very, impressed.”

Westwood made over 300 appearances in the Premier League for both the Clarets and Villa before moving to the American coast earlier this year.

The former Turf Moor favourite has no regrets about leaving England and says the experience of playing in the MLS has been incredible and that he was surprised by the standard of football.

“It’s been absolutely incredible; it’s surpassed what I ever thought. I thought it would be good but the standard has taken me by surprise.

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“We’re a bit obnoxious in Europe about the MLS, we look down our noses at it. For me it’s the toughest league in the world, it’s more the travel.

“We fly everywhere and go through different time zones. That side of it is challenging, it’s unbelievable. The places you go and the facilities are incredible.

“A lot of the teams are new, they have purpose-built, brand new modern stadiums.”

The full interview with Ashley can be found in this Sunday’s programme which you can purchase online or in and around Turf Moor.

In there you can find what the Charlotte FC midfielder had to say about facing Lionel Messi, reflections on his time at both Burnley and Villa, his predictions for the season for both club’s and this weekend’s match.