Give Thommo another deal

CLARETS skipper Steven Caldwell feels compatriot Steven Thompson deserves a new deal at Turf Moor.

The 31-year-old Scot has scored three goals in his last five games, but is out of contract in the summer.

He has only started one Premier League game, after his 12 goals proved crucial on the way to promotion last season.

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But Caldwell, himself coming to the end of his contract, hopes the former Rangers and Cardiff front-man is offered fresh terms.

Last term, his league goals were the difference between Burnley winning 12 points, while he also fired the club to a fifth round FA Cup tie at Arsenal with further strikes against QPR and West Brom.

Add his glorious strike that put the cherry on the cake in the play-off semi-final second leg at Reading, and his contribution was pivotal.

He has suffered from increased competition in the form of David Nugent and Steven Fletcher this season, but Caldwell said: “I think Thommo’s been outstanding, he’s been outstanding since he came to the club, especially in the last three or four months.

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“I’m disappointed for him that he hasn’t had more opportunities, his form’s been tremendous, he’s been scoring goals, and I think he took his goal at Birmingham tremendously well.

“He’s a great lad, one of the many facets of this squad that have been so important.

“There’s different personalities and committed footballers, and it’s a pleasure to call him a team-mate.”

However, one player who definitely won’t be staying at Turf Moor is Icelandic midfielder Joey Gudjonsson, who, on Wednesday, left the club by mutual consent.

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The club reached an agreement with the 29-year-old that sees him leave Turf Moor with immediate effect.

Gudjonsson’s current contract with the Clarets, who he joined in the summer of 2007, was due to expire in the summer.

In his three and a half year spell with the club, he made 109 appearances, scoring seven goals - his most memorable coming from long range in the Lancashire derby with Preston North End last season.

The midfielder played his part in the Clarets earning promotion to the Barclays Premier League for the first time, but has subsequently only made one league start this season, at Tottenham Hotspur, along with nine substitute appearances.

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Gudjonsson also made two Carling Cup and two FA Cup appearances this term, and his last appearance for the club came in the FA Cup defeat at Reading in January.

But, after being omitted from the squad after the arrival of Brian Laws, Gudjonsson was highly critical of the new Clarets boss to an Icelandic website, and was suspended for two weeks after the 4-1 win at Hull City.