DREAM TEAM
Lennon in awe of brilliant Burnley
AARON LENNON insists Burnley’s band of brothers are better players than they get credit for.
The Clarets squad are renowned for the tireless work-rate boss Sean Dyche gets from them.
But Lennon, who joined the club from Everton in January, has also been massively impressed by the footballing ability of his new team-mates.
“A lot of people don’t realise how good these players are,” Lennon said ahead of today’s Turf Moor clash against his former club.
“Even I didn’t realise they were this good. I think maybe this year people are starting to take notice.
“You play against them but you don’t realise how good someone is until you play with them.
Keeping
“There are some fantastic football players here. Some have come from non-League and are they underrated? Probably so.”
England manager Gareth Southgate will be at the game to take a closer look at some of Dyche’s squad.
He is thought to be keeping a particular eye on uncapped defenders Ben Mee and James Tarkowski as well as keeper Nick Pope.
And Lennon, who won 21 full caps himself, says the trio are “100 per cent” good enough to play for the Three Lions as ® Southgate ponders his squad for friendlies against Italy and Holland later this month.
“All three of them will play for England at some point, and sooner rather than later,” added the 30-year-old winger.
“They have what it takes to go all the way.”
Lennon has quickly settled into life at Burnley and has so far managed to escape the forfeits for being on the losing side in training games.
But he could not escape the initiation ceremony for new players of being forced to sing in front of the whole Clarets squad.
“I did a little Usher number, but it wasn’t the best to be fair!” said Lennon.
“I tried to sneak off and thought I was getting away with it but the lads were not having it.
“This is probably the most tightly-knit squad I have seen in my whole career and you see the benefits on a Saturday.”