Burt: ECL run was a kick-start

WITH all this Euro excitement going on around the League, Liam Burt is hungry for a return to that stage for Bohemians.

The talented Scot says the Gypsies’ ECL run last year was the “kick-start” to his time at the club as the Phibsboro outfit overcame Stjarnan and Dudelange before losing to PAOK 3-2 on aggregate.

“To just narrowly get beaten, a lot of people probably didn’t expect us to get that close,” the 23-year-old recalled.

“The first two games we had in the Aviva, there was limited capacity but it went up and up with every game and it gave us an edge as the supporters got behind us and it was a kickstart to my career over here.

“I wouldn’t say that it took me by surprise, but I think the standard of the league is a lot better than what people overseas think.

“I think I’ve improved as a player and a person since I’ve been here. It was a great experience.”

Beating Motherwell in both legs of their ECL second qualifying round provided tomorrow’s opponents Sligo with a similar feeling.

But the Bit O’Red have been dealing with a Euro hangover they didn’t want with Thursday’s 5-1 defeat to Viking in Stavanger, a result that all but ends their involvement ahead of Thursday’s second leg at the Showgrounds.

Bohs hope to add to their woes at the same venue ahead of the second leg by leapfrogging Sligo into fifth, putting them closer to European qualification.

“We all know we had a slow start but with the new signings and the last couple of results, it’s going to bring a lot more confidence,” Burt said.

Stepped

“We’ve stepped our performances up so hopefully we can go on a run, building up confidence and the new signings have come in and helped us with that.

“They’ve gelled well with us and it’s a great group.

“This is the time to push on and demand a lot of ourselves, and hopefully at the end of the season we’ll show we’ve done that with a high place in the League and hopefully getting Europe.”

One of those new signings is Josh Kerr, a fellow Scot who has joined the Bohs’ Dunboyne household where Burt resides.

The pair actually attended the same school St Ambrose High School in Coatbridge, on the outskirts of Glasgow - but only played against each other until now.

Burt was with Rangers as a schoolboy, Kerr was with Celtic

and because both were under contract, they weren’t allowed to play schools football.

“I played against Josh underage,” Burt explained. “He was in the year above me but I know boys he knows and stuff like that, so it’s good to finally play together.”

The midfielder is playing with more freedom now that he is pain-free having finally shaken off the effects of an osteitis pubis injury.

“Yeah, especially the last couple of weeks have been a lot better, with the games being every week,” said Burt.

“At the start of the season there were a lot of FridaysMondays and it was tough to get right but the last couple of weeks I’ve been feeling fine.

“There’s a different feeling going into the games knowing I don’t have to take anything to get through them, it’s just focusing on performance.”