Defour back for the long haul

The creative Belgian, now under contract at the club until the summer of 2020, will weigh up his options once his current deal expires but, should it suit both parties, the 30-year-old would consider seeing out his playing days at Burnley.

Defour, who was a record buy when joining from Anderlecht for around £7.5m in 2016, has made it no secret that he would like to finish his career where it all started at Mechelen.

However, as his representative Christian Pala confirmed earlier in the year, it would all depend on which step of the ladder the Belgium outfit are operating at.

Speaking to the Burnley Express at the Etihad Stadium, when questioned about ending his career with the Clarets, he said: “It is one of the possibilities. I am not taking anything for granted.

“I want to work every week and show what I am capable of and show that good level that I was on last year. I want to be at that level really soon and we will see what happens.

“I am not asking for anything, I am not shouting anything off the roof, I just want to play football at the moment.”

He added: “It has been a tough last couple of weeks and months, injury wise, my dad passed away so I am trying to enjoy every moment now.

“When you are coming back from a nine month injury, coming back out onto the pitch, it almost doesn’t matter what the result is you just want to be out there on the pitch and start playing and enjoying every moment.”

Defour made a welcome return to Premier League action in defeat against reigning champions Manchester City.

The former Standard Liege and Porto man had been sidelined since January after requiring surgery on his knee.

After making his comeback in the top flight, he said: It has been a while, you know it is going to be tough at Manchester City but you have to start at some point. I was fit to play and the gaffer put me in.

“Normally you have to adapt again to Premier League level because U23 football is not the same level so I want to be ready for the games that really matter for Burnley. It was good to be out there and get some freedom even though it was tough.

“It was good, physically I felt fine, of course I was a bit tired at the end but I feel I am getting really close for the next few weeks.

“Chelsea at home will be a different game and then we have Leicester and West Ham and then you expect to get something.”

Defour missed the final 14 games of last term as the Clarets nestled in seventh spot, entering the Europa League qualifying process as a result.

The midfielder accepts that emulating that success would be difficult but he doesn’t see any reason why Sean Dyche’s side can’t finish up in the top half.

“We could (finish in top half),” he said. “There are signs of it, we have not played good but picked up points.

“We had tough games against Cardiff and Huddersfield but picked up points which was important for us so we will get there to that point where we will play some good games and start picking up points. Every year we have tough moments and now we have a tough moment at the beginning of the season and it will go away at some point and then we will pick up points really fast.”