THERE may not have been any Premier League games at the weekend, but there were some Premier League performances in the England under 21 friendly against Portugal at Turf Moor.

Burnley were represented well, with three current squad members putting in an appearance.

MORE TOP STORIES:

Michael Keane looked assured at the back, Nathaniel Chalobah came on as a second half substitute to tighten up the midfield, and Danny Ings notched an impressive brace of goals in the 3-1 victory.

I was on the Cricket Field End along with the England band, who soon struck up a version of ‘Daddy Cool’ to accompany the Clarets fans’ Danny Ings exaltation, which topped off a great night both for England and Burnley Football Club.

Now we’re almost two thirds through November and although you won’t thank me for reminding you, just 36 full days away from Christmas Day.

Yet I’ve only been to a dozen competitive Burnley matches thus far, 11 in the Premier League and the League Cup knockout by Sheffield Wednesday.

That’s got to be the least attended at this stage of proceedings for 45 years.

Of course we all know that the primary reason for the punctuated season are the international breaks.

But if you look further on in the fixture list there are also unprecedented free Saturdays not only for the fourth round of the FA Cup in January, but also for the fifth round in February and the last eight in March – all meaning our last league game is not until May 24.

Plenty of time to reassess our ongoing campaign then, and at this particular juncture let me propose just three reasons to be cheerful. Crystal Palace, Sunderland and Hull.

For me, we were better than this trio on the day without getting maximum points in two of the games, which leads me to believe that we will be above all three in the final table.

If you want some more good news it’s Stoke City on Saturday and since the windswept Britannia Stadium opened who has taken the most points away from them.

Chelsea maybe? No, although they have plundered the second most.

Got to be Manchester United, Liverpool, Tottenham or Manchester City then?

No! Collect your pint if you said the mighty Clarets, who have accumulated a fine 17 points there, with five wins, two draws and just two defeats to become the Potters’ nemesis.

“Fact!” as Ricky Gervais would say.

I’ve got 50 quid wagered with the locals to say that this run will continue against their ‘bogey’ team. Do it boys!