Boyd ready for Premier League fight

New boy George Boyd is ready to fight tooth and nail to keep the Clarets in the Premier League.
Fighting spirit: George BoydFighting spirit: George Boyd
Fighting spirit: George Boyd

The £3m summer signing, believed to have equalled Sunderland striker Steven Fletcher’s club record move to Turf Moor in June 2009, spent last season in England’s top tier with Hull City.

And the 28-year-old isn’t planning on giving it up: “Once you get a taste of the Premier League you don’t want to go anywhere else, and I’m sure with the squad we’ve got we’ve got a great chance of staying up.

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“It’s been a brilliant couple of seasons with Hull, obviously getting promoted to the Premier League, the FA Cup Final and Europe this season.

Burnley's George Boyd in action during todays match  

Photographer Kieran Galvin/CameraSport

Football - Barclays Premiership - Crystal Palace v Burnley - Saturday 13th September 2014 - Selhurst Park - London

© CameraSport - 43 Linden Ave. Countesthorpe. Leicester. England. LE8 5PG - Tel: +44 (0) 116 277 4147 - admin@camerasport.com - www.camerasport.comBurnley's George Boyd in action during todays match  

Photographer Kieran Galvin/CameraSport

Football - Barclays Premiership - Crystal Palace v Burnley - Saturday 13th September 2014 - Selhurst Park - London

© CameraSport - 43 Linden Ave. Countesthorpe. Leicester. England. LE8 5PG - Tel: +44 (0) 116 277 4147 - admin@camerasport.com - www.camerasport.com
Burnley's George Boyd in action during todays match Photographer Kieran Galvin/CameraSport Football - Barclays Premiership - Crystal Palace v Burnley - Saturday 13th September 2014 - Selhurst Park - London © CameraSport - 43 Linden Ave. Countesthorpe. Leicester. England. LE8 5PG - Tel: +44 (0) 116 277 4147 - [email protected] - www.camerasport.com

“But I thought it was important to play at this level week in, week out and thankfully the gaffer has given me that opportunity.”

The Scotland international was handed his debut by Sean Dyche in the 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

And Boyd, who only had an 81st minute substitute appearance for the Tigers to his name this term, insists that an intensive training regime has helped build on the foundations of that outing.

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“It was my first game for a month so I got a bit of cramp at the end but I felt good and lung wise I felt fine,” he said.

“The training is so intense and it’s helping me already.

“It will take me one or two games and then I’ll be firing.

“It’s been brilliant so far.

“The intensity of the training is so good, it prepares you for the matches and the team spirit straight away.

“The lads have welcomed me, Nathan (Chalobah) and Keano (Michael Keane) straight in so it’s been brilliant.”

Keane and Chalobah are expected to be in the squad to face the Black Cats tomorrow, having had a watching brief against Palace, as boss Sean Dyche explained: “The two younger players were deliberately not involved because I need them to see how we operate, and the fitness and sharpness levels.”

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Boyd came in for his first appearance at the expense of Matt Taylor, who had started the previous three Premier League games against Chelsea, Swansea City and Manchester United.

Taylor was in line to feature against Palace, but sat out the game with a slight niggle.

The former Bolton and West Ham midfielder is again a doubt to face Gus Poyet’s side, who are expected to line up again with Connor Wickham as a lone striker.

Fletcher - who Burnley signed from Hibernian for £3m five years ago, and sold after a 12-goal campaign to Wolves for a then-club record £6.5m - was not even in the 18 last weekend for the 2-2 draw with Spurs at the Stadium of Light.