Sean Dyche hints at possible Danny Drinkwater stay at Burnley for rest of season

All may not be lost for Danny Drinkwater’s Burnley experiment. After missing the vast majority of the season with injuries and off-the-pitch shenanigans, the Chelsea loanee is healthy and fit and ready to contribute. He’s been part of the Clarets’ last four matchday squads, and even started and played an hour against Manchester City (albeit in what was a 4-1 defeat). He could be in line for another start this weekend, against Bournemouth.

The problem for Drinkwater is that his half-season loan is expiring in three weeks, on January 6. Burnley have not yet decided what they want to do with him, but with just five games until then (four league, one FA Cup), he doesn’t have much time left to impress and convince.

That said, Burnley boss Sean Dyche is sounding a bit more positive regarding the situation than he did just a few weeks ago, and it seems like there’s certainly a chance that Drinkwater’s loan will be extended for the second half of the season.

“It is circumstantial at the moment. He has had a spell out but I think he is generally enjoying what we have to offer here. Obviously he wants more game time but he understands that, having missed so long, that that is a process.

“Chelsea I think are happy with what he is trying to achieve here and he is working hard. We will wait and see. Because he hasn’t played so much we will take the thinking over the Christmas period because you never know what could change with a chunk of games coming up.

“I have had a chat with him today (Thursday), he is looking fitter and sharper and we will wait and see. We will see if he can get himself a shirt and play well for us.”

-Sean Dyche; source: Lancashire Telegraph

It may be too much to hope that Burnley would eventually take Drinkwater off our hands permanently, but perhaps they can entertain him for another six months. Every little bit helps in mitigating one of our worst transfer decisions of all time.