Charlie Taylor has backed fellow left back Stephen Ward to find a new club quickly after his Burnley departure was confirmed. 

The Republic of Ireland international’s five years at Turf Moor will come to an end when his contract expires this summer. 

Ward, 33, has made just 11 appearances this season in a campaign interrupted by knee surgery in October, last featuring in the 5-0 FA Cup defeat at Manchester City in January.

He leaves the Clarets however having been a key figure for Sean Dyche since his move from Wolves back in 2014, scoring four goals and playing 113 times in total. 

Lancashire Telegraph:

This season has seen Taylor emerge as the main man on the left-hand side of the defence, making 45 appearances in all competitions. 

The 25-year-old was full of praise for Ward though as he moves on to pastures new. 

"He's a top pro and more than anything, a top guy as well who is great off the pitch,” said Taylor. 

“I wish him all the best, I'm good mates with him and I'm sure he'll have no problems finding another club.”

Ward missed out on a cameo from the bench in the final day 3-1 defeat at home to Arsenal on Sunday, the circumstances of the game going against him despite Sean Dyche’s wish to get him one final appearance in front of the Turf Moor crowd. 

Taylor played the full 90 minutes and was largely pleased with how the Clarets ended a campaign that saw them finish 15th in the Premier League despite Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s double helping the Gunners to victory. 

"We had a couple of chances early on and if we'd scored one it would have been a different game,” he said. 

“That’s the fine margins - but it wasn't a bad performance.

"Aubameyang has the golden boot for a reason though, he took both goals brilliantly, and that was probably the difference.

"You could argue he's the best in the league. He's a top player and Arsenal are lucky to have him.”