Burnley new boy Shackell aims to settle down

NEW boy Jason Shackell is hoping to pull the plug on a nomadic career by settling down at Turf Moor.

The 28-year-old defender, who signed from Derby County on a four-year deal, has represented five clubs in the previous four seasons with spells at Norwich City, Wolves, Doncaster Rovers, Barnsley and the Rams on his resume.

But buoyed by the enthusiasm, positivity, ambition and persistence of Burnley boss Eddie Howe, the experienced centre-back believes he can find success at the club and make the town his home.

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“I’ve moved around a lot so I’m ready really to settle down,” said Shackell.

“So I want to do well and hopefully we can do well as a team and I won’t be moving on in another year’s time.

“They have shown a lot of commitment to me and hopefully I can do the same back.”

The £1.1m signing, Howe’s top summer target, added: “It’s nice to be wanted – it makes a massive difference.

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“Everybody likes to feel wanted, the boss has been keen to bring me in and that’s been nice. And once I met him and listened to what he had to say I was very impressed.”

Following discussions with management staff, scrutinising the facilities at both Turf Moor and Gawthorpe, and meeting his new team-mates for the first time as they reported back for pre-season training on Friday, Shackell is adamant the club has got the foundations and pedigree to mount a challenge in the Championship.

The Stevenage-born defender has tasted promotion from England’s second tier with Norwich City, and is eager for another shot at the Premier League with the Clarets.

He said: “Obviously everybody wants to play in the Premier League and I’m no different.

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“I want us to do as well as we can and try to win promotion.

“I’m not saying that’s going to be easy, this league is going to be tough this year, but there’s no reason why we can’t do well with the players that are here if we hit a good run.

“It’s 100 per cent achievable. Everybody already knows Eddie is a young manager with big ambition, and I’m sure he wants to manage at the highest level – and I want to be part of it.

“I think it could be exciting times for Burnley.

“He is ambitious and I know he wants to manage at the highest level, it’s such a fine line in this league.

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“But, with the players here, if we can get on a good run, there’s no reason why that can’t become a reality.”

Shackell, who was voted the Tykes player of the year during the 2010/11 campaign and runner-up in the Rams’ fans player of the season last term, has been bestowed the captain’s armband while at Carrow Road and Oakwell, but has no plans to usurp Clarets skipper Chris McCann. However, he feels he has the necessary attributes to become a leader on the field.

“The captaincy is not a question at the minute. Obviously I’ve enjoyed being captain at my previous clubs and if it ever came about it would be fantastic, but at the minute I’m just looking to get my head down and make sure I’m playing well.

“I’m competitive and I’m quite vocal so that’s something I’ll bring to the side, I’m a natural defender, I’ll put my head in and try to make blocks, and try to play a bit when I get the opportunity, so I just try to work hard, keep my head down and do my job.”

• The Burnley Express has launched a FREE football app which is now available to download on iPhone and Android devices.