Long pens new Burnley deal
6:00am Friday 1st March 2013 in Sport
Exclusive By Suzanne Geldard, Burnley FC reporter
BURNLEY have signed defender Kevin Long on a new two-year deal, with a further 12-month option.
The young Irishman has only recently come into the side despite already spending more than three years with the Clarets, after signing from Cork City.
But Long has impressed under manager Sean Dyche, and has been rewarded for consistently solid performances at centre half.
Now, after being loaned out five times since arriving at Turf Moor in January 2010, the 22-year-old is looking forward to a fresh start with Burnley.
“I see my future here now I'm in the team and doing well,” said Long, whose initial deal was set to expire in the summer.
“I'm delighted. I've been waiting a long time to get into the Burnley starting XI.
“I'm delighted to be playing at the moment and hopefully we can pick up a few results now.”
Long was given his full debut under Dyche in December, against the manager's old club Watford, but suffered a setback with a minor ankle injury.
Since replacing David Edgar in the side, following injury to Michael Duff, Long has started the last three games.
And he has thanked boss Dyche for putting faith in him.
“The manager has faith in everyone. If you're playing and playing well it's hard to change the team, but when there are a few injuries or suspensions all you can do is be ready,” he said.
“I've had a lot of managers since I've been here. When you're not playing there's always that doubt (that you might not) but I've always been confident in my own ability.
“When I've been out on loan and done well I've come back and done well in training.
“Every manager has their own style of play. The new manager's come in and gets us working really hard in training, and he said everyone has a fair chance if you're working hard in training and playing well in training.
“Thankfully that's the case.
“Now I just want to do as well as I can, try to stay in the team and hopefully pick up some points.”
Long is hoping to celebrate his first win since inclusion in the side at Charlton Athletic tomorrow, and boost a run of only two points from a possible 18, after Tuesday's 1-0 defeat at home to Huddersfield made it six games without a win.
“Everyone's really disappointed because everyone knows we didn't play anywhere near as well as we could on Tuesday,” he said.
“We know we can play better and we should have been playing better, that's what's disappointing.
“I think the effort was there, just for whatever reason it just didn't work on the night.
“Everyone's been positive in training and looking forward to (tomorrow) now and hopefully getting a win.
“You've to go into every game believing you can win, and that's what we're doing at the moment. We just haven't got that bit of luck in the last few games.
“I think if we go into (tomorrow) believing we can win, if we play well enough we'll get the three points.”
