Wallace happy to stay at Burnley

WIDE man Ross Wallace admits he has no desire to leave Turf Moor, and hopes his form will help earn a new contract.

The 27-year-old’s current deal runs out in the summer, but is eager to extend his stay in East Lancashire after three seasons with the Clarets.

The Scotland international wants to be part of the future at Burnley, and he said: “I’ve not heard anything yet - I don’t think anyone has - but I’m pretty sure the board will have one eye on it.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Like everybody you’d be lying if you said you didn’t have one eye on the situation.

“But it’s not up to me, it’s up to the manager to decide what he wants to do.

“If he asks me to sign a new contract - I love it here.

“We’ve got a good squad, we just need to build on that.”

Wallace, Dean Marney, Lee Grant, Martin Paterson, Chris McCann, Michael Duff, Brian Jensen and Kevin Long are all out of contract at the end of the season, and he added: “We’ve got a few players out of contract and I think it’s important we get that sorted early doors.

“You’re trying to build something then if you’ve got six or seven out of contract - with five or six of those in the team - it wouldn’t be very good if all those players left.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“But I’m pretty sure the board know what’s happening, they’re not stupid.

“I’m sure it will get sorted.”

The former Celtic and Sunderland man has started every game under new boss Sean Dyche, bar the home defeat to Charlton, for which he was suspended, and is enjoying a fine run of form - though he is desperate to get off the mark for the campaign.

He has yet to find the net this term, after six goals last season, and he said: “I’ve been disappointed that I’ve not scored yet this season. I’ve been gutted. But it’s not for the want of trying.

“I’ve had a lot of good shots recently. I had the one at Hull off the bar and keepers have made a couple of good saves.

“I’ve been practicing shooting.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“This time last year I had a few games where I was scoring. Hopefully I’m saving them for towards the end of the season when we’re up there maybe.

“But I feel like I’m getting closer.

“Hopefully if I get one they’ll just continue.”

Dyche appears to be bringing the best out of Wallace, and he is enjoying playing in the 4-1-4-1 system he has preferred to date: “Since the manager’s came in I think I’ve been playing really well over the last five or six weeks.

“I’m really happy with my form at the minute and hopefully I’ll keep it going until the end of the season.

“The new system has helped me get further up the pitch. The manager’s tried to get me closer to Charlie (Austin) - me and Pato (Martin Paterson).

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“With Deano (Marney) bombing on as well and playing further forward, I think me and him have been linking up really well in midfield.

“We’ve been getting up the pitch, and that gets Tripps (Kieran Trippier) up the pitch as well.

“With us all being down that right hand side, we’ve been dominating games there and getting balls in for Charlie.”

And he hopes the confidence gleaned from the performance and point in the derby against Blackburn will serve the side well: “It was a good game - a better derby than against Blackpool and Bolton.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“It’s not the same as Celtic v Rangers, but not far away to be fair!

“I think everybody enjoyed playing in the game.

“It was a bit more tense and a good atmosphere, I really enjoyed it.

“It was a good game as well. The first half we pretty much dominated possession and they had a spell when they scored when they started to get on top for about 15 or 20 minutes.

“But we finished the game strongly and I think overall we deserved something out of it.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“It surprised me how tense it was but I love those kind of games because it gives you an extra edge in the game.

“I’d play those games every week if I could!

“But we’ve got a good team and a settled team. We’re steering clear of injuries at the moment so if we can manage to do that until the end of the season, and continue to stop leaking goals as well and picking up points as we’re going along, we’ll probably go on a run soon.

“If we keep playing the way we are, we can get on a good run of wins and get right up there.

“If we can go three, four or five games doing really well and getting a few wins, we’ll be right in the mix.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“We’re really confident. We’ve got a good team, the basis of a good squad. We’ve got a small squad, but we’ve got a good squad.”

• The Burnley Express has launched a FREE football app which is now available to download on iPhone and Android devices.