Matt’s just so chipper over Special One Sean

MATT LOWTON faces Jose Mourinho today – but for the Burnley defender the real ‘Special One’ is Sean Dyche.

The Clarets boss has loomed large in Lowton’s football life ever since Dyche almost left the young Chesterfield fan with a broken ankle when he was only seven.

The full-back, 31, said “I was at the semi-final of the FA Cup against Middlesbrough at Old Trafford in 1997 and I was only seven.

“Sean was captain of Chesterfield and when he scored a penalty to make it 2-0 there was pandemonium.

“I was stood on a seat because I was only small and couldn’t see. Obviously they flip back, so when that folded, I had my foot stuck and someone pushed me forward.

“I don’t think my dad even realised, to be honest, because he had run down the aisle celebrating.”

Dyche has made amends since, signing Lowton (above) from Aston

Villa for around £1million in 2015, playing him more than 160 times for Burnley and handing him a new two-year contract last month.

Lowton added: “He’s great to work with and I cannot imagine working with anyone else better. He’s the Special

One for me, no doubt at all.

“Yes, so it’s strange how it worked out. Since I have been here he’s been the biggest and best part of my career.

“I have learned so much from him, on and off the pitch.

“That’s why I was absolutely delighted to sign a new deal because I have loved every minute here.

“The manager is great, and it’s a nice show of faith from him. Hopefully, I have repaid it up to now but it’s not a case of thinking I have got the contract and that’s it.

“I want to keep playing for myself, the club and definitely for Sean.”

With right-backs all the rage, and trail-blazing Manchester City star Cancelo leading the way with his attacking licence under Pep Guardiola, Lowton grabbed his own headlines with a goal-of-the-month strike in the 3-0 win at Crystal Palace.

But he maintains his best was actually a long-range screamer against Stoke in 2015.

Lowton added: “A lot of the lads are saying it’s got to be Palace because I picked the ball up on the halfway line, beat three men and volleyed it in.

“It is a close-run thing but I still think the Stoke one was better.”