DYCHE DEBT OWED
Josh thankful
JOSH BROWNHILL will forever be grateful to Sean Dyche for giving him the chance to shine in the Premier League.
But now the focused midfielder only has one thing on his mind – avoiding relegation.
And after providing both the assists in Burnley’s 2-0 home win over Southampton on Thursday in the wake of Dyche’s sacking, the former Manchester United young gun has no illusions about the key role he can now play in the Clarets’ survival bid.
“For Sean to bring me to the club and make me a Premier League player, I’m really thankful,” said Brownhill, 26.
“I spoke to him on the phone. It was emotional when I spoke to him. It’s not nice when somebody has to leave. He brought me in from the Championship and gave me that trust.
“It was one thing bringing me in, but another thing playing me.
“He trusted me in some big games, playing me away at some big teams, some big grounds and in some big pressure games.
“I’ve spoken to him and I think a lot of the lads have. He’d been here so long. He was here for 10 years and what he did for the place in general has been huge.
“In my career it’s the first time it’s happened so it was a bit of a strange feeling. I’m used to the same people being there.
“When I was at Preston Simon Grayson was there, at Barnsley Lee Johnson was there and he actually left to go to Bristol City, but he wasn’t sacked.
“At Bristol City, Lee Johnson was there for the whole time I was there.
“I haven’t experienced a sacking or somebody leaving, so it was a strange feeling knowing he’s not coming back in.
“It’s football and it happens up and down the country a good few times a year.”
Dyche departed after nearly a decade at Turf Moor, but victory over the Saints and a “massive” 3-2 win against fellow relegation
strugglers
Everton have boosted spirits at the Lancashire club.
But with six games remaining, including today’s home clash with Wolves, Brownhill knows the fight is still not over yet.
“We’ve got six big games left,” he said. “We’ve had a few points in the last few games and if we continue that I’m sure we’ll be fine.”