McNeil explains why he ‘always’ wanted to stay after signing new Burnley deal

Dwight McNeil TEAMtalk

Dwight McNeil insists his focus has always been on Burnley after signing a new contract with the club.

The England Under-21 international has extended his existing contract by 12 months after agreeing a deal until June 2024, with the option of a further year.

McNeil, 20, joined the Clarets’ youth set-up in 2014 and has made 63 Premier League appearances to date, scoring five goals and providing 12 assists.

He said on Burnley’s official website: “I’m delighted to sign a new contract. I love playing for the club and it’s a club I want to be at.

“It’s a great position to be in and I couldn’t have asked for more help from the lads, to be honest.

“My focus was always to be a Burnley player and carry on doing what I’m doing because I love the club, I love the team and playing for the gaffer (Sean Dyche) and that’s what I want to carry on doing.”


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McNeil made his senior debut against Bournemouth in Burnley’s final game of 2017-18 and got his first start in a Europa League clash with Olympiakos in the following August.

He then made a first Premier League start the following month against Manchester United – the club he had been at as a schoolboy – before registering his first senior goal against West Ham in Burnley’s concluding fixture of 2018.

From that outing onwards he has started all of Burnley’s league matches bar one.

 

McNeil wants to continue growth at Burnley

“Going back to that West Ham game, the gaffer and the lads put their belief in me and I have been in the team ever since,” McNeil said.

“I’m so happy and fortunate to have been in the team but I think I’ve also showed what I’m capable of doing and I just want to keep doing that.

“I feel like I’ve become more experienced and understand myself more as a person on and off the pitch and that’s been important.

“I just want to do the same as last year now and continue to be part of the team throughout the year. I just want to play football.”