‘One day’ – Burnley man confirms interest in future move to Championship rivals
Burnley full-back Connor Roberts has confirmed a desire to return to former club Swansea City in the future.
Burnley and Swansea City faced off before the latest international break, with the hosts ultimately emerging victorious at Turf Moor.
It was a last-gasp penalty from Jay Rodriguez that secured the three points for Scott Parker’s side. It lifted the Clarets to 4th in the Championship table and prevented the Swans from making it three wins in a row in the process.
The tie saw right-back Connor Roberts pit against some familiar faces. The Neath-born defender is a Swansea City academy graduate and boyhood fan, playing 152 times for the club before eventually heading to Burnley in 2021.
Now, in the wake of their Championship meeting, Roberts has admitted a desire to return to his former club at some point in his career.
Speaking on BBC Wales Sport’s Feast of Football podcast, here’s what the Swansea City man had to say about facing his former side:
“It was strange, It’s always been strange. But it’s the environment we are in.
“Hopefully one day I can go back to Swansea and I can be on their team for once. There will hopefully be good memories when I do go back and play for them again.
“But at the moment I am a Burnley player and I want to win every game and do my best for the Burnley fans and everyone associated with that club.”
Roberts’ Burnley future
After spending the second half of last season on loan at Leeds United, Roberts has returned to the Burnley fray with a regular starting berth in the Championship. However, his current deal with the Clarets expires at the end of this campaign.
His potential availability may well open the door to a Swansea City reunion sooner rather than later, but perhaps adventurers with another side await before he links up with his boyhood club again.
You can’t help but feel that as long as Turf Moor is entertaining Championship football, Roberts will be an asset. He can still be valuable in the Premier League too, though his chances were limited during their last stay.
Plenty of clubs will have eyes on the 28-year-old’s situation if his contract is allowed to run down next year.
The current focus
While Roberts may have a long-term eye on reuniting with Swansea City, the full-back is fully focused on current matters with Burnley as they bid to return to the Premier League.
Despite some early questions, Parker has the Clarets sat near the automatic promotion spots in 4th and has been beaten only twice in 15 games.
