‘It’s almost impossible’ – Dyche delivers verdict on Taylor ahead of Leeds v Burnley clash
By Harry Sykes
Sean Dyche has defended Charlie Taylor’s start to life at Burnley and insisted that it is virtually “impossible” that he has struggled to get a look-in at his new club.
Dyche is clear that he is no doubts about Taylor’s calibre or attitude and could hand him only his second appearance since leaving Leeds United in controversial circumstances in Tuesday night’s League Cup third-round tie at Turf Moor.
The left-back ended his with boyhood club United when his contract ended in July, moving on to Burnley for a compensation fee that has been widely reported to have been settled at £7million.
Taylor was the 2015-16 player of the year at Leeds, but his relationship with the club soured after he submitted a transfer request in the summer of 2016 and Garry Monk claimed he refused to play in the final game of last season with a move to the Premier League pending.
Burnley handed him a four-year contract at the beginning of July and later finalised a deal with United, avoiding the need for a tribunal to set Taylor’s valuation.
However, the defender has been kept out of the Premier League side by Stephen Ward and his only appearance to date had been in a League Cup win over Blackburn Rovers last month.
“It is almost impossible that Charlie is not involved at the moment,” said Dyche, as quoted by the Yorkshire Evening Post. “He’s doing fantastically well and I thought he was terrific against Blackburn.
“It’s more of a tactical reason as to why he hasn’t been involved in the last two. His time will come and he’s certainly applying himself correctly.
“He’s just one example of many who are really pushing because there’s a real competition in the group.”
Taylor was not the only player to swap Elland Road for Turf Moor this summer, with striker Chris Wood making the same journey for a fee of around £15million.
The Kiwi has made an immediate impact for Dyche’s side, scoring two crucial goals in his first three league matches, and could be rested against Leeds with one eye on Saturday’s league clash against Huddersfield.
Leeds and Burnley meet at Turf Moor for a place in the last 16 of the League Cup.
In other Leeds United team news, a 26-year-old Monk mainstay is fighting for his Elland Road career after recent developments.
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