Rovers hope loanee Burke will sign permanent deal

MANAGER Stephen Bradley is hopeful of getting Ireland international Graham Burke back to Shamrock Rovers on a permanent basis after his loan deal from Preston was extended for another year.

Burke (26) came off the bench to play a role for the Hoops in Saturday’s 3-1 win at home to Finn Harps, a victory which puts Rovers five points clear of Dundalk.

Champions Dundalk can haul that back if they win their next game, away to Bohemians on Friday, before Rovers do battle again, away to Derry

City next Sunday. Burke had missed the last three games of the season pre-lockdown due to injury, but his return to fitness, and the fact that he’s now tied to Rovers until June 2021, is a big plus for Bradley.

“We’re delighted. We’ve obviously secured him for another 12 months which is fantastic,” Bradley said.

“Graham scores goals when he’s playing. When he’s fit and he’s playing, he gives us a different dimension. We’ve a lot of really technical footballers, and Graham is very concentrated on scoring goals. He gives you that little edge up front.”

Burke was already an Ireland international, capped by Martin O’Neill, when he joined Preston in 2018 in a deal worth a reported €250,000.

But while fellow LOI exports Seán Maguire and Alan Browne prospered at Deepdale, Burke struggled despite a bright start where he scored two goals in his first three appearances.

He was loaned out to League One side Gillingham for the second half of the 2018/’19 season and was then sent on loan again, back to Rovers.

Preston’s decision to extend that loan for another year will take Burke up to the end of his contract there and as he’s unlikely to play for the club again, Rovers would like to make it a long-term arrangement.

“That’s obviously the plan going forward but that’s 12 months away, a lot can change,” added Bradley.

“If you’re asking would I like to have Graham here long term, 100 per cent. He’s everything that we want here.”