Burnley

Stephen Ward: 'Burnley in Europe would be unbelievable achievement'

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 06 March 2018

Stephen Ward targeting European football

Stephen Ward is excited about the prospect of playing European football next season, with Burnley currently riding high in seventh place in the Premier League.

Burnley defender Stephen Ward has talked up the "fantastic" prospect of hosting European football at Turf Moor in the 2018-19 campaign.

Despite struggling for wins since the turn of the year, picking up maximum points for the first time in 12 attempts at the weekend, the Clarets have managed to hold on to seventh place.

That current position may be enough to land a place in Europa League qualifying, depending on who lifts the FA Cup, and Ward is excited about the thought of a season of continental football in Lancashire.

"It would be fantastic, obviously for the fans it would be an unbelievable feeling for them and an unbelievable achievement for us," he told Sky Sports News.

"[It's our] second season in a row in the Premier League; I think we were written off by a lot of people because teams get worked out a little in their second season so it's all credit to the management, staff and recruitment giving us all new dimensions and different ways of playing.

"That's really been key, especially away from home this year where our form has been a lot better."

Burnley face West Ham United at the London Stadium on Saturday afternoon, aiming to rack up successive wins for the first time since early December.