Taylor Hoping For Happy Reunion

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Clarets' defender aiming to extend unbeaten run against former club

2020-12-26T20:29:21.547Z

Taylor Hoping For Happy Reunion

Clarets' defender aiming to extend unbeaten run against former club

2020-12-26T20:29:21.547Z

Clarets' defender aiming to extend unbeaten run against former club

Charlie Taylor is relishing his first return to Elland Road as he looks to help the Clarets win the long-awaited Roses clash.

Taylor hasn’t played a game at the home of his former club since making the switch from Leeds United to Burnley in July, 2017.

But the Yorkshireman will be back at Leeds on Sunday with Burnley seeking to extend their unbeaten run to five games in the first top-flight meeting of the clubs since 1976.

“When the fixtures came out it was the first game I looked for,” said Taylor, who made 104 appearances for Leeds after coming through the club’s youth system.

Taylor Hoping For Happy Reunion - Image 1

“To see it was at Christmas was great but it’s a real shame there are no fans there for either team. It would be a great occasion but I’m hugely looking forward to it.

“It was a huge part of my career. I spent 12-13 years there and it will be nice to go back and see some familiar faces.

“I loved my time there. It’s a good club, a huge club and I’m looking forward to going back.

“They are the club I supported as a boy and I have a lot of friends there. To see them back in the Premier League is brilliant.

“It’s where they deserve to be, with the fan base and the history. I want them to do well, but obviously not on Sunday.”

Leeds are back in the Premier League for the first time in 16 years, while Taylor is enjoying his fourth successive season in the top tier with the Clarets.

Taylor Looks For Leicester Response - Image 3

And the 27-year-old is just three appearances shy of the total he made for Leeds after clocking up a century of games for Burnley in the Clarets’ 0-0 draw at Villa in their last away game.

“It’s a proud achievement for me,” added Taylor, whose form as part of the Clarets’ miserly back four has been integral to the team’s upturn in fortunes.

“I’m honoured to have made 100 appearances for this club and hopefully I can make another 100 more.

“It’s a good time for me and the club. We want to kick on and I want to kick on and hopefully there are many more appearances here for me.”

The Clarets had kept four clean sheets in six games prior to conceding a late penalty in last Monday night’s 2-1 win over Wolves.

Taylor Hoping For Happy Reunion - Image 3

But that victory lifted Sean Dyche’s men to 16th in the table – with games in hand over the clubs in the relegation places – and to within four points of a Leeds side sitting just one place above.

Taylor played a significant role with a superb run and cross creating the opening goal for Ashley Barnes on his return to the scoresheet.

And with the Clarets on a run of just one defeat in seven games prior to the first of two matches in three days – against Leeds and then bottom club Sheffield United – Taylor is looking to keep the revival going.

“We got four points from two away games, which can’t be knocked in the Premier League. It’s a good return and then to follow that up with a win against Wolves was huge,” said the left-back – an ever-present for the Clarets so far this season.

“It got us slightly away from the bottom three and above a couple of teams. It’s nice to look at the table and see us a bit higher up now. We want to continue that now and carry the run on.

“We have picked up some good points on the road in recent weeks. We will be going there (to Leeds) confident and hoping we can carry on our form.”