PLAYED FOR BOTH: KEV MCDONALD

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Ahead of Saturday's match with Fulham we caught up with the former Clarets and Fulham midfielder

2024-02-02T10:00:00.000Z

PLAYED FOR BOTH: KEV MCDONALD

Ahead of Saturday's match with Fulham we caught up with the former Clarets and Fulham midfielder

2024-02-02T10:00:00.000Z

Ahead of Saturday's match with Fulham we caught up with the former Clarets and Fulham midfielder

One former Claret with a foot in both camps this afternoon is Kevin McDonald. Born in Scotland, the centre-midfielder made the move to Turf Moor from Dundee in 2008 and spent three years at the Club.

Reminiscing on his time with the Clarets, McDonald holds special memories from his time but it was Burnley’s rise to the Premier League in his first season at the club which proved to be a stand out moment.

Alongside promotion to the top-flight, McDonald scored both goals in a 2–0 win over Arsenal at Turf Moor in the league cup as the Clarets reached the semi-finals.

The current Bradford City midfielder said: “When I look back on my time I was a highly rated youngster in Scotland, where most people at the time either go to one of the Old Firm teams, Celtic were quite keen on me at the time and there were a couple of teams down South.

“I think as probably everyone would say once you speak to Owen Coyle and your mind has been made up regardless of what teams are interested. I think that was the main selling point, what helped was a Scottish manager, and a couple of Scottish guys in the team, once I spoke to Coyley my mind was made up.

“It was great. I enjoyed being there. I probably didn’t play as many games as I would have liked but for me being 18 and being down in England it was full of great people.”

McDonald’s career with Burnley suffered towards the end after he left the stadium after being substituted during a 6-1 defeat against Manchester City in April 2010, an incident he looks back on with regret but doesn't let overshadow his spell in Lancashire.

“It was disrespectful to the club and the team,” said Kevin, who was 21 at the time. “I never shied away from it, I was young and naïve but in my eyes would I have liked to have done better in my career at Burnley? I would.

"The fans were bang-on with me. I understood the club and the manager, there were no hard feelings and I met friends for life.”

The Scotsman departed the Clarets at the end of the 2010/11 season and joined Sheffield United after a trial period.

“After Burnley, I was at a point where I needed to pick my career back up. Sheffield United I did really well, the previous year I nearly went but it didn’t happen.

"I was happy to stay the following season came around and it was time to leave. Wolves came in for me and it was the best decision I made, to be honest with you.”

McDonald joined Wolves in 2013 and went on to make 120 league appearances for the club, going on to be the club’s Player of the Year, both players’ and supporters’ versions, in their League One title-winning campaign and although he feels he hasn’t had much time to look back on his career as a whole, he says when he does it will be one that holds great memories for him.

“I’ve not really had time to look back on a whole, but think if I stuck at it, I maybe would have been on that upward trajectory earlier, there’s a bit of regret but that’s life.

"It’s one of them ones. We had a good group of lads at Burnley, maybe in time I will look back and think fair play but it has been a good ride that’s for sure.”

This afternoon Burnley and Fulham face each other after different midweek results in the Premier League and McDonald is looking forward to the game and feels it will be a good footballing contest between two sides eager for the points.

“I liked Burnley last season in Championship, Vincent Kompany transformed the team and club. It should be a good footballing game, these are the games Burnley should be looking to win to progress.

"Fulham have been up and down, they are missing Mitro up top but if they are at it, they are a good team to watch. Two teams will go out for the three points, but I’ll sit on the fence and hope for a draw!”