Burrell: Euro Cup clash just the Challenge beaten Falcons need
LUTHER Burrell says Friday’s EPCR Challenge Cup opener at home to Worcester Warriors is the ideal chance for Newcastle Falcons to re-calibrate after last weekend’s Premiership loss at London Irish.
The centre made his first start of the campaign at the Brentford Community Stadium following a knee injury picked up in a pre-season friendly against Doncaster, and sees Europe as an opportunity for the Falcons to move up a gear.
He said: “I love the European competitions and it is probably not the worst thing in the world for us just to have a little change of focus and a different tournament to crack into after last weekend.
“I was lucky enough to win the Challenge Cup during my time at Northampton so I know what that tastes like and it is a very exciting time.
“I really feel we can target this competition and do well in it this season.
“You need rotation in your squad with the length of season we have here in England, but on the same note we are putting out a really strong side on Friday and looking to make a positive start.”
Glad to be back involved after watching most of the season from the stands, Burrell played the full game last weekend – having been a replacement a fortnight earlier at Sale Sharks.
The midfield man, capped 15 times by England, said: “It was just great to have myself back on the field in the Premiership, having come on from the bench two weeks ago in the cup.
“It has been a long 13 weeks or so and to get through the full 80 minutes unscathed was a big thing for me.
“The result took the shine off that and the boys let themselves down with the performance but the great thing about rugby is there is always a new opportunity around the corner.”
Explaining his injury, Burrell added: “I had a grade three MCL [medial collateral ligament] on my knee.
“It is one of the more severe grades of injury but thankfully I did not need an operation and in fact I have never had any surgery at all throughout my entire career. I am quite proud of that but nevertheless it was quite a severe injury and it was imperative I took my time to come back properly and get the knee as strong as it needed to be.
“It can be a dark place at times doing your rehab – just you and the physio or sometimes totally on your own while the team are out on the field or on the road doing their thing.
“You want to be a part of those games and be among the boys and you really feel excluded when you are out injured despite the best efforts of the lads and the medical staff to keep you involved.
“I have managed to get through that and hopefully I am in a position to add something to the team.”
Newcastle will be out to improve on the 24-24 draw when Worcester last visited Kingston Park Stadium just under a fortnight ago, not that Burrell is attaching too much significance to the Premiership tussle.
He went on: “I am not sure how relevant that game will be to either side as we prepare for Friday.
“It was a different tournament, possibly a number of different players, the weather was horrendous and it was a draw anyway.
“I am sure both sides will feel a degree of disappointment at having missed scoring opportunities but it is a clean slate now and another chance to have a crack at them.”