Long Eager For Clarets Chance

Burnley defender Kevin Long says he is getting frustrated at a lack of action but still feels “valued” by the club. Long is yet to feature for the Clarets in the Premier League this season, with his only outing coming in the 3-1 Carabao Cup defeat to Sunderland.

The 29-year-old is currently on international duty with the Republic of Ireland and he believes he is in Burnley boss Sean Dyche’s plans going forward, so he isn’t anticipating an exit.

Long was an unused substitute in his side’s 1-0 win over Everton at the weekend and he remains behind Ben Mee and James Tarkowski in the pecking order at Turf Moor but hopes to get a chance in the league in the coming weeks.

“I might not play that much but I’m valued,”Long said, as reported by Lancs Live. “Obviously I want to play more but it’s not that easy.”

He added: “It is frustrating but, as I said, it’s a business at the end of the day. If I’m under contract it’s up to the club to not let me go and if the manager likes what he sees, he’s going to keep me. If there are injuries or whatever, I know I’m going to play.”

Long also faces competition from Ben Gibson for a place in the Burnley starting XI and it remains to be seen when his next chance will come, but he should see some action for his country over the international break.

Ireland are without injured defenders Shane Duffy and Richard Keogh for their double-header of away Euro 2020 qualifiers against Georgia and Switzerland.

The former Portsmouth loanee joined Burnley as a youngster from Cork City in January 2010 and has since managed 63 appearances in all competitions for the club. The defender’s current contract comes to an end in the summer of 2021 and it seems as if he expects to see out this season with the Lancashire clib, although he could attempt to engineer a move next summer if he is unable to secure more game time in the months ahead.