CUPID'S ARO

Published date18 March 2024
Publication titleDaily Star (England)
BY DAVID ANDERSON JAMES TRAFFORD may have to get used to sitting on the bench after Arijanet Muric seized his chance

Muric impressed on his Premier League debut after Burnley boss Vincent Kompany finally bowed to fan pressure to play the Kosovan ace.

The supporters revere Muric for his role in last season's Championshipwinning triumph, when he was named the division's top goalkeeper.

His best saves were from Yoane Wissa and Ivan Toney, and the sobering message for Burnley's £19m record signing Trafford is he will take some shifting.

Charlie Taylor knows what it is like to sit on the bench at Burnley and says Muric deserves his shot.

"Obviously Aro was brilliant, he made some big saves and kept us in it," said the Clarets left-back.

"Traffs is young and he's done well this season. Aro's had to bide his time. He took his chance with two hands. He was brilliant and everyone is pleased for him.

"Everyone knows how good Aro is. He's a top keeper. He showed that last year, he shows that every day in training."

Kompany says he picked Muric because he felt he was the best keeper for this game and still believes Trafford will ultimately be England's

No.1. The issue he must now grapple with is when to bring Trafford (inset above) back.

His form dipped in recent weeks as he shipped 62 goals in his 28 Premier League games.

Muric fully deserves to start Burnley's next league game at Chelsea and he commands his area much better.

Burnley's slim survival hopes could be boosted if Nottingham Forest and Everton are docked points for breaching the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules, but Taylor says they must focus on themselves.

"It could change things, but we've just got to control what we can control," he said.

"We're trying to improve where we are in the table. We've got three points today and that's...

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