Josh: I had to knock Irons back
BURNLEY midfielder Josh Brownhill was always going to be wearing a claret and blue shirt.
But when West Ham launched their 11th-hour bid to snatch him away from Sean Dyche’s clutches in January, the 24-year-old never had any doubts that Turf Moor would be his new home and not the London Stadium.
“My heart was always set on Burnley,” said Manchester-born Brownhill, a Manchester City fan who, after being released by Manchester United as a youngster, had been putting in the hard yards with Preston and Bristol City until Burnley came knocking.
“We were in talks for a couple of weeks and when you get that feeling for a place, it’s hard to describe but I just knew it was the right place. It is always nice to get interest from other clubs, and West Ham is a big club.
“But Burnley were a lot safer in the table and, for me, it was about Premier League status as well.
“Burnley just ticked every box. The way they played, where they were in the table, the manager, the players, the location in the country.”
Successive wins against Watford and Crystal Palace mean today’s clash with Sheffield United has become an unlikely audition for Europe.
Brownhill said: “I don’t think many would have said that both clubs would be where they are, but it isn’t by chance that
Europe is within reach.”