Burnley opinion: Phil Bardsley to get an extension – Good move?

According to a report in Lancashire Live, Burnley right-back Phil Bardsley has confirmed his stay for the third season at the club after extending his stay till the end of next year.

The 33-year-old, who has missed the last six weeks of action due to a leg injury, has played enough games during this campaign to activate a clause for staying at Turf Moor for another season (h/t Lancashire Live).

Barring the injury, the fullback has had a decent year, where he was the first-choice right-back for most games. He has played 19 full games for Sean Dyche’s men.

Since joining from Stoke City for an undisclosed fee in 2017 (h/t Lancashire Live), Bardsley has been competing with Matt Lowton for that right-back spot. While the latter was given the nod last season, the former did earn his place in the team this time around until the injury halted him.

Here’s why Burnley would benefit from having the 33-year-old in their squad for one more year:

Experience and performance guarantee is vital

Phil Bardsley is now an experienced Premier League footballer, with over 250 top-flight appearances in his kitty. Hence, he knows the surroundings while plying his trade at such an intense league.

Furthermore, we know about his qualities as a right-back. The 33-year-old is a feisty player who doesn’t back down from a challenge or two. His one-on-one defending in wide areas is good, while his crossing into the opposition box isn’t too shabby either.

The one thing which is firmly associated with the veteran is his ability to give 100% no matter what the situation is. Thus, a manager can trust him to do a particular job and expect a positive outcome.

All these above-mentioned traits are enough to suggest that Burnley should be happy that Bardsley is staying with them for another year. Being the competitor that he is, the 33-year-old should surely continue the battle to regain the right-back slot back.

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Conclusion

Sean Dyche is the type of manager who loves to work with committed players. For that reason, Bardsley staying in the squad would be good for him and the whole club.