Hines backs Stan to deliver at Burnley (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Hines backs Stan to deliver at Burnley

10:02am Wednesday 12th September 2012 in Football By Suzanne Geldard, Burnley FC reporter

JUNIOR Stanislas can produce his best for Burnley this season, says former team-mate Zavon Hines.

The one-time West Ham pair came through the ranks together at Upton Park before both left to join the Clarets in August 2011.

It proved a tough transition for Hines, who went on to sign for League Two Bradford City after failing to start a Championship game under Eddie Howe, resulting in his release from Turf Moor in the summer.

Stanislas, right, made more of an impression with 32 league and cup appearances last term.

The winger came with a reputation of being able to score goals, having hit five in the Premier League for the Hammers, and three in the League Cup. Stanislas went a full season without scoring after completing his transfer deadline day move from East London to East Lancashire.

But after benefiting from a full pre-season with the Clarets, he ended that drought with his first goal for the club in Burnley’s first away game at Middlesbrough.

And Hines believes the 22-year-old can keep going from strength to strength this season. “I’ve been speaking to him and some of the other players and he’s been looking sharp. He said he feels good,” said the striker.

“He’s a good player and everyone will see that.

“Burnley haven’t seen the best of him yet. There’s still more to come from him I think.

“The more he plays the more they’ll see it.” Hines, on the other hand, admitted it came as a personal frustration to be limited to just 13 appearances from the bench last season, revealing that his lack of action made it even harder to settle at a new club.

“It was difficult because I was living alone and I had come a long way from home,” said the striker.

“I thought coming up here would be beneficial for me but in the end it wasn’t because I didn’t play as much as I expected to. “It was difficult but at the end of the day football’s football. If you’re not playing you’re not going to be happy and it won’t help your living situation, you won’t be settled.”

He added: “It was very frustrating last season, considering I knew I could have done a bit more for the team. But obviously Eddie Howe didn’t pick me so there’s nothing I could do about it.

“I don’t know what happened. “Every day I tried to work hard in training, but it’s one of those things – if the manager’s not picking you there’s nothing you can do about it.

“Personally I thought I worked hard every day in training. “When people have made their mind up on you sometimes you can’t change it.

“I just got on with it and tried to work hard in training.” Hines, 23, ended the season on loan at Bournemouth before going on to sign a one-year deal with Bradford after Burnley opted against activating the 12-month option on his contract.

“Sometimes you’ve got to step back to go forward,” said the former England Under 21 international.

“I haven’t got any regrets about going (to Burnley), it was just another learning experience for me.

“I’m just enjoying playing football and now that I’m at Bradford I can show people what I can do.

“When I first broke in at West Ham I showed I can play at the highest level. Sometimes things don’t go the way you want them to go. This isn’t a step back.

“It’s a good club with good fans and they’re ambitious. “I’m ambitious as well. I want to play as high as possible.”

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