Burnley defender Kyle Walker says he is 'desperate' for a win against Derby County this weekend. The 36-year-old's side, who sit 24th in the Championship, are on a 22-game winless run stretching back to last February.
Walker told reporters he has never craved a victory more. "I'm desperate. I've never wanted a victory so much because there's a lot of noise," he said. The former England international, who won 17 trophies at Manchester City, admitted the transition to a relegation battle has been jarring. He said he has probably never experienced a situation like this in his career.
A stark contrast
The full-back contrasted the environment at the Etihad Stadium with the current struggles at Turf Moor. He noted that at City, players marshalled themselves and maintained exceptionally high standards, driven by a great manager in Pep Guardiola and a strong collective spirit. Walker stressed that while the togetherness at Burnley is also great, results have not followed. "Am I the most talented player? Definitely not," he said. "I played with many more talented players than me but what I pride myself on is working hard and proving people wrong."
Burnley's winless run includes 13 games at the end of last season, which ended in relegation from the Premier League. They have not won a match inside 90 minutes this campaign. Saturday's 3pm kick-off at Turf Moor is their final match before an extended international break, creating a key moment. Walker is torn on the break, saying a win would build momentum for October, while a loss would make them thankful for time to regroup.
The Derby perspective
For visitors Derby County, the game represents a chance to climb away from the bottom themselves. Paul Warne's side are 22nd, just two points and two places above Burnley, having taken four points from their opening seven games. Their recent form shows one win in five, a 2-0 victory at Portsmouth, but three consecutive losses since, including a 2-1 home defeat to Birmingham last time out. Bobby Clark scored in that match and is the Rams' top scorer this season with two goals. The club's standings position reflects a tough start, with six goals scored and 13 conceded.
Derby will be without several key players through injury, including Craig Forsyth and Matt Clarke. The full list of those currently sidelined is available on the club's injuries page. This adds to the challenge of facing a Burnley side whose senior professional has publicly vowed to fight until the end.
Walker emphasised that talking is over and action is required. He said the team needs a win, which is the be all and end all, and that they must talk face to face to sort things out. The fixture is the last either side will play for three weeks, adding significant weight to the outcome. Derby's next assignment after the international break is a home game against Coventry City on October 3rd schedule. For now, all focus is on halting a dismal run at Turf Moor this Saturday.
