Clarets loan star Kightly wants extended stay

Loan winger Michael Kightly admits he would like to stay at Burnley and play in the Premier League next season.
Michael Kightly turns to the crowd to celebrate as his goal fired the Clarets towards the Premier LeagueMichael Kightly turns to the crowd to celebrate as his goal fired the Clarets towards the Premier League
Michael Kightly turns to the crowd to celebrate as his goal fired the Clarets towards the Premier League

Kightly joined on a season-long loan from Stoke City in September, and, after scoring the winner at Blackpool on Good Friday to take the Clarets to the brink of promotion, he was at it again on Monday, netting the second in the 2-0 win over Wigan that sealed Burnley’s ascent to the top flight.

The 28-year-old helped Wolves win promotion to the Premier League five years ago, and admits it was sweeter this time around, as the Clarets upset the odds.

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Speaking about his future, the former Southend wideman - who has a year left on his contract at Stoke - said: “We’re not going to look forward just yet, we’ll enjoy the celebrations and Saturday as well, our last home game.

“We’ll have some time off and then crack on again next year.

“But I’ve really enjoyed it here and I’d love to stay.”

And comparing this achievement to Wolves’ in 2009, Kightly admitted: “I think it’s better.

“To be tipped as fourth (favourite) to go down and them to win promotion, it’s a bigger achievement than when I was at Wolves.

“We were expected to get promoted.

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“Obviously I enjoyed that time thoroughly. but I’ve really enjoyed this.

“If you would have said to us you’re definitely going to get promoted and it will be at home in front of your own fans, we would have preferred that.

“Fair play to Derby, they took us all the way near enough and made us do it ourselves, and that’s how we wanted to do it.

“It’s definitely sweeter.”

Shortly after Kightly arrived on loan, Burnley moved into the Championship’s top three, and haven’t dropped out since, and he added: “Things have gone well and I’m really pleased and everyone at the club deserves it, all the players and the coaching staff and the manager, they deserve everything they get.

“We’ve stayed really professional.

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“It shows how good we have been this year because we’ve been under pressure a lot. To perform like that when we’re under pressure is brilliant, and we can talk about promotion now.”