Tarky hoping to keep his shirt after full debut

Deadline day signing James Tarkowski is hoping to have given manager Sean Dyche a selection headache ahead of Saturday's trip to the Macron Stadium to take on Bolton Wanderers.
Burnley's James Tarkowski in action

Photographer Alex Dodd/CameraSport

Football - The Football League Sky Bet Championship - Burnley v Nottingham Forest- Tuesday 23rd February 2016 - Turf Moor - Burnley

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

Photographer Alex Dodd/CameraSport

Football - The Football League Sky Bet Championship - Burnley v Nottingham Forest- Tuesday 23rd February 2016 - Turf Moor - Burnley

© CameraSport - 43 Linden Ave. Countesthorpe. Leicester. England. LE8 5PG - Tel: +44 (0) 116 277 4147 - admin@camerasport.com - www.camerasport.com
Burnley's James Tarkowski in action Photographer Alex Dodd/CameraSport Football - The Football League Sky Bet Championship - Burnley v Nottingham Forest- Tuesday 23rd February 2016 - Turf Moor - Burnley © CameraSport - 43 Linden Ave. Countesthorpe. Leicester. England. LE8 5PG - Tel: +44 (0) 116 277 4147 - [email protected] - www.camerasport.com

The 23-year-old was handed his full home debut in the midweek victory over Nottingham Forest after defender Michael Keane was ruled out of the clash at Turf Moor with a head injury.

The former England Under 21 international was involved in a collision with Rotherham United goalkeeper Lee Camp at the weekend with FA protocol indicating that he shouldn’t be considered for selection for six days.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Tarkowski, a £3m signing from Championship rivals Brentford, played just under an hour against the Millers and went on to contribute to a 14th clean sheet of the term for the Clarets alongside Ben Mee at the heart of the defence.

“It was nice to get my first start and to get a win and a clean sheet is obviously good for myself and the team, and it’s another three points towards the target we need to head for,” he said.

“It was nice to come on at the weekend and get the first minutes under my belt, but obviously the first start is something you always look forward to, and it was good to top it off with a win.

“I’ve had my chance to come in and hopefully I can do enough to keep my spot.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Tarkowski added: “That’s my job for now. Keano’s done great since he’s been here, he’s had a lot of plaudits and it’s unfortunate for him to get injured. But I think that’s why I was brought here in the first place, as a bit of cover.

“Unfortunately for Keano and fortunately for me I got in the team and it’s my job to keep my spot now, and that’s what I’m looking to do.

“Keano’s been a top performer for the team over the last couple of seasons so I’m sure he’ll be looking to get back in himself.”

Victory over Dougie Freedman’s side stretched the club’s unbeaten run to 10 games but the former Oldham man stressed that the Clarets can’t afford to rest on their laurels.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“We need to keep going now,” he said. “We can’t just think that we’ve done the job. There’s a long way to go still, there are plenty more games to win and pick up points.

“We go on to Saturday now and we’re looking for another big three points there.

“You can look at the table and see we’re second but the only positions that matter are when it comes to the last day of the season.

“For now we’ve just got to really look at the points we’re picking up and keep doing that.”