JACK Cork says he would choose Burnley ahead of maintaining his Premier League status next season if it meant he was guaranteed regular first team football.

The popular midfielder cemented his place in the Clarets’ side after arriving for his second loan spell from Chelsea in mid-August.

And since announcing his intention to fly the Stamford Bridge nest this summer, after relying on loan spells at six different clubs to satisfy his desire to play, fans are calling for him to make the move to Turf Moor permanent.

Although manager Eddie Howe has been impressed by Cork since he took charge in January, a lot depends on whether the funds for the England Under 21 international are available.

The Burnley boss may have to move players on before making additions and I understand there has not yet been a concerted attempt to enter into negotiations with Chelsea over Cork.

After a meeting on Tuesday with Howe, the 21-year-old returned to London to end the season with his parent club, where he has been since he was nine years old.

But Cork, whose winner away to Preston was voted goal of the season, remains open to coming back for a third spell with the Clarets, on a full-time basis.

“I just want to play football really. If someone comes in from above and says you’re going to sit on the bench and maybe play here and there, it’s hard because it’s Premier League football but playing every game is what I want to be doing. At Burnley I’ve been doing that and I’ve really enjoyed it so if I can come back here and help to try to push again for promotion I’m happy to do that,” he said.

“A lot of fans have come up to me and said I’ve done well and they understand if I want to move on.

“But I like everyone here, they’ve been good to me and I don’t want to let anyone down.

“I’ve had a good couple of years here and I want to try to help the club push on.”

Although missing out on the top six was a disappointment for the club, Cork admitted a full season at Turf Moor had provided him with some personal highlights.

“Goal of the season is something I never really thought I’d get in my career because they only come every now and again and they’re not usually the best of goals,” he said.

“I only have a few chances here and there and they never really seem to go in.

“To get goal of the season is amazing for me.

“It’s been a great season for me. I came here knowing it would be hard for me to get in the team because we’d just come down from the Premier League and I came back a couple of games into the season.

“But in football a lot of it is about taking chances and when you get your chance you’ve got to be prepared to take it.

“When Brian Laws gave me my chance at the beginning of the season I think I did well and I haven’t looked back.

“We’ve had a lot of good perfor-mances this season and hopefully we can take that into next year.”

And Cork, who has had other loan spells at Bournemouth, Scunthorpe, Southampton, Watford and Coventry, says it wouldn’t be an upheaval to relocate from his London base to East Lancashire after admitting it had become a home from home.

“I really like it here and I’ve said that from the day I came here. Everyone’s been really friendly to me,” he said.

“I’m settled already and my girlfriend’s settled here and I do like it as a place.

“It’s a good place and a friendly club and I’ve met a lot of good people here. I have to sit down and decide what I’m going to do in the summer.

“If anyone was to come in for me Burnley would be right up there as the club that would most interest me.”