Zeki Amdouni's 'mixed feelings' on his Burnley return after '291 days without football'
Zeki Amdouni was left with mixed feelings after his long-awaited return from injury came after Burnley’s relegation had already been confirmed.
The 25-year-old played his first minutes of the season on Friday as a late substitute during Burnley’s 3-1 defeat to Leeds United.
It was his first competitive appearance since an international appearance for Switzerland in June 2025, having since been sidelined with a devastating ACL injury.
For Burnley, meanwhile, it was the first time he represented the club since that debacle at Sunderland in August 2024, where he joined Benfica on loan shortly afterwards.
While the forward will be disappointed his return has come so late in the day, there will also be an element of relief that he’s now fit enough to feature.
“291 days without football... today I'm back,” he penned on social media.
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“Mixed feelings. Happy to return, but it hurts seeing the club relegated.
“Thank you to everyone who supported me during this long journey. This is not the end.”
Interim boss Mike Jackson, meanwhile, spoke of his personal delight at seeing Amdouni back involved.
"Brilliant,” he said. “I'm delighted for him as a guy as well, because he's been out for nine or 10 months and you see a glimpse of his quality later on.
"You see Hannibal coming on as well, and that hostile atmosphere against him. I thought there were some good things in there where we showed some glimpses of what we need to be.”
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