Burnley manager Sean Dyche has said that he will not be throwing youngster Aiden O’Neill straight into the starting line-up.
Aiden O’Neill of Burnley in action with Darren Pratley of Bolton Wanderers
It has been a solid enough start to life back in the big time for Burnley, as Sean Dyche’s men currently find themselves in 14th after the opening eight games of the Premier League season. With such a long schedule ahead of them they need a deep squad in order to cope until May, and a couple injuries have highlighted that issue more than ever. As reported by Lancashire Telegraph, manager Dyche has insisted that he will not throw promising youngster Aiden O’Neill directly into the first team in place of injured star Steven Defour.
Belgian international Defour has been sidelined with a hamstring problem, however initial scans show that it may not be as serious as it was once thought to be. Regardless, it means that Dyche has to change the team around and some fans have been clamouring for the introduction of Australian midfielder Aiden O’Neill.
“I don’t think he is yet (ready to start in the Premier League),” Dyche said to Lancashire Telegraph when speaking of O’Neill.
“We’ve given him a taste of it, I think that’s important, he’s still learning, he’s 18 and it’s a big step for anyone, playing Premier League football, but definitely for an 18-year-old.
“But the fact he’s been around it and earned his spurs – if you’d seen how he’s trained and played in pre-season, he’s earned the right.
“We don’t put people on the bench for no reason, but I’m sure he’s not ready to start yet, unless we had extreme injuries or whatever.”
The 18-year-old has been gradually appearing more and more for the Clarets, and he is awaiting his chance to really burst into life for the Lancashire side.
He will be hoping to make some form of appearance this weekend when they host Everton in a vital league clash.
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