NEWEST recruit Richard Eckersley said that when faced with the choice of Manchester United or Burnley, his mind was made up instantly.
After waiting until January this year for his first team debut, from the bench against Tottenham in the FA Cup fourth round, the 20-year-old full back knew opportunities at Old Trafford would be limited.
In signing a four-year deal with the newly promoted Clarets, Eckersley is confident he has made the right call in turning his back on his boyhood club.
“When Burnley came knocking it was an instant decision,” he said. “When I made my first team debut against Tottenham I was just craving first team football.
“I decided this season that it would be a choice between going on loan or leaving because I was desperate to play first team games.
“(United) offered me a contract, but when Burnley came in it was a no-brainer really.
“I’d been there since I was nine so it was a really hard decision, but my family was advising me. My brother (Adam) was at United as well, so I learned from him and maybe his mistake. I think he stayed there a bit too long.
“United’s a fantastic club, but sometimes you’ve just got to look away and see if you can get a first team game somewhere else.”
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