Wallace excited by influx of youth in Burnley FC squad

WIDEMAN Ross Wallace has hailed the impact of loan signing Kieren Trippier.

Trippier joined on a season-long loan from Manchester City charged with replacing Tyrone Mears, who Wallace felt was the Clarets’ Player of the Year last term.

And he has slotted smoothly into that role, winning a number of man of the match awards, while weighing in with a number of assists so far.

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Wallace has linked well with the England Under 21 international, and he said: “Right back was a position we were probably worried about at the start of the season after Tyrone left, but Tripps has come in and been outstanding.

“I voted for Tye as my player of the year, so we were always going to miss him, but at the moment it doesn’t look like it.

“Sometimes you link up with players better than others, and it seems to be going well at the moment.

“Kieren is similar to Tye in the way he gets forward and bombs on, so I’m probably used to playing with that style, so it’s clicked right away.

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“I can come inside now and have a few more shots, which I’m trying to do.”

The vogue in football at present seems to be for inverted wide players, and the left-footer is enjoying life on the right: “A lot of teams have left footers on the right these days, and vice versa - it seems to be the way forward in the modern game, and I’m enjoying it.

“You get more of the ball, you get to come inside and get involved, and you can go outside as well.

“But I’m feeling fit and feel I’m playing fairly well so I have to keep it up.”

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Wallace, at 26, is the one of the oldest players in the squad after a summer where the average age dropped dramatically.

But despite losing some key players, the Scotland international is excited by the future: “I don’t know what it was about losing the players we did, whether it was the wages they were on or whatever, but we’ve brought in young lads and the manager has had to adapt, so you’ve got to give him credit for spotting these guys.

“We lost a lot of big players, but the guys who have come in have been superb.

“I’m excited by it, you can feel the energy, and we have speed, which you need nowadays going forward.

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“We have pace and a final ball, and Jay and Charlie playing well as well.

“Overall we have good options, and that’s what you want.

“I’ve played a decent amount of games in the Championship so I know what it’s about. I’ve been promoted before so I know what’s involved in that.

“There are a few guys here who have experienced that to help these young lads.

“But at the moment they’re flying so we’re just happy to let them keep going.”

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Players like Chris Eagles and Wade Elliott have left, but the side remains potent out wide, as boss Eddie Howe said: “We’ve got a really good choice out wide and some exciting players as well and a bit of pace there now. I’m pleased with the work we’ve done in that area

“Kieran plays like a winger as well!”

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