I ALWAYS THROW IN THE TOWEL
Bursik says lucky charm is behind Stoke improvement
Championship: 7.45pm
JOE BURSIK says a lucky towel is the reason behind his extraordinary Stoke goalkeeping record.
The 20-year-old rookie was thrown into the Potters side following injuries to Adam Davies and Angus Gunn.
And he has responded by conceding just eight goals in 11 games, including seven clean sheets in his last nine.
But the England Under-21 international reckons he has mum Debra to thank for the gift she gave him as a child.
Bursik said: “I’m quite superstitious. I perform at my best with a clear head. I will always hang my towel up in the left side-netting. I always do that.
“I got that towel for Christmas from my mum when I was about nine and I’ve kept it ever since.
“I’ve put it on the side-netting for every game I’ve ever played and will always have it in my goal. Some linesmen tell me to take it out but as soon as they turn their back I put it back in!
“It needs to go in the same square in the net too.
“It is just something I’ve always done, it feels like a good-luck charm from her. It probably gives me good grounding.
“My mum is buzzing with my form. She feels like my PR agent at the moment.
“She texts me every game about how many extra Twitter followers she has got and threatens to post all my baby pictures. She can barely watch when we’re live on TV and hides behind the sofa. But she is loving it, as all my family are.
“I ’ m so proud and grateful to have this opportunity. It feels like a whirlwind.” Michael O’Neill’s side had keeper trouble when Davies and Gunn both got injured so Bursik (conceding against Norwich, above) was recalled from a loan spell at Doncaster in November. And he hasn’t looked back. He said: “I had a great time at Donny but it felt like Christmas came early when I got the call. Now I go into every game believing I won’t concede.”
But the big test for Bursik is when Davies and Gunn regain fitness. “I’m not really sure about what will happen when Adam and Angus are fit,” he said. “I just have to do as well as I can. It’s down to the manager.”
Stoke, just two points off the play-off spots, have the Premier League in their sights ahead of tonight’s home clash with highflying Bournemouth.
Bursik said: “This is a massive club that has spent the majority of the last 10 years in the Premier League. There’s a real buzz and a real belief we can do good things this season.”