Kieran Trippier lifts Burnley from the back and is on Roy Hodgson’s radar for good reason

Reliable defender came up through the Manchester City youth system but Burnley has benefitted as the prospect was under the watchful eye of the English national team coach on Saturday, writes Andy Mitten.

Burnley defender Kieran Trippier, left, vies with Arsenal striker Alexis Sanchez during their English Premier League match at Turf Moor in Burnley, north west England, on April 11, 2015. AFP PHOTO / LShow more

Had Manchester City not been taken over in 2008, the futures of several of their young stars may have been very different. City had an track record of promoting youth and reached the 2006 FA Youth Cup final before winning the competition in 2008.

Without the money of their rivals to compete on the transfer market, City had to invest in youth. That changed and City were able to buy some of the world’s best players, but it meant fewer chances for youth players.

Daniel Sturridge, Dedryck Boyata, Vladimir Weiss, Nedum Onuoha and Kieran Trippier were the stars of that 2008 youth team.

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Sturridge has progressed to become a Liverpool star and is central to Roy Hodgson’s plans for Euro 2016, but England’s manager was at Turf Moor on Saturday evening not to watch any of the Arsenal players who extended their winning run to eight – none of their starting XI were English.

Instead, his focus was on two Burnley players. Out-of-form striker Danny Ings and right-back Trippier, two of Burnley’s best players, are almost certain to leave if the Lancashire club are relegated.

They will do so with the reluctance but best wishes of fans who have appreciated their quality in two eventful seasons at Turf Moor.

Trippier, 24, was born in Bury, 24 kilometres from Burnley’s terraced houses. Promising at City, he was another homegrown talent to lose out after the takeover. Though he featured in a 2009 pre-season friendly against Barcelona, Trippier went on loan to Barnsley and then to second-tier Burnley.

A successful 2011/12 season in which he was named Burnley’s Player of the Year saw the team make the deal permanent.

The England Under 21 international has started in all 31 Premier League games for Burnley this season, missing only four minutes of action.

Only West Ham United’s Stuart Downing has made more accurate crosses, but Burnley still struggle for goals, scoring just once in six league games.

Unable to change that unfortunate statistic against Arsenal, they played a high formation which suited Trippier. Burnley had held out for 70 minutes at the Emirates Stadium earlier in the season, but they went behind after 11 minutes to an Aaron Ramsey goal.

“We defended well and got our blocks in, I just disappointed that we didn’t get a point,” Trippier said. “The difference in this league is that if you give up chances to as team like Arsenal then they’ll take them.”

Trippier came closest to equalising among the swirling winds of Turf Moor, his 23rd-minute free kick well saved by David Ospina. Burnley deserved the applause of their fans at the end of the 1-0 defeat, but they will need more than that if they are to avoid the drop.

“We didn’t get the points today but we move on against Everton next Saturday,” he said. “People wrote us off at the start of the season, but we’re still there, still fighting.

“We knew it would be difficult but we’ve stuck together. Most of the boys had not played in this league before and we needed to find our feet but we’ve done that.”

Aided by prospects such as Trippier, they have done well to have a chance of staying up so close to the end of the season.

“We give everything and the belief in our team is so strong. That has never changed. Hopefully we can get the points we need to stay in this league. We’ve got six cup finals now.”

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