Source: Team_Talk
Coyle hails hard-working Nugent
Nugent made his first appearance for the Clarets in a friendly against Accrington Stanley on Tuesday after Coyle rescued him from a nightmare spell at Portsmouth by snapping him up on loan on transfer deadline day.
In a little over two years, the 24-year-old had gone from scoring on his England debut during a prolific stint with Championship side Preston to warming the bench at Fratton Park.
Nugent managed just three league goals in two frustrating seasons on the south coast, but put in a lively performance during a 75-minute run-out on Tuesday night and appears to be playing with a smile on his face once again.
Coyle is confident that conditions are perfect at Burnley for Nugent to thrive and hopes the player's new-found optimism will serve him well as he prepares to mark his return to the big time by taking on Liverpool, the club at whose academy he started his career.
"I don't think there is any big secret - I've been there myself," said Coyle.
"With football clubs, sometimes you go to places and walk through the door and you think the atmosphere is perfect for what you want to do.
"There is a lot to be said for that. Whatever happened at Portsmouth has happened, you can't affect that, but you can affect what is in front of you.
"I believe he has got a spring in his step, he wants to play, he wants to score goals and he has got a point to prove.
"That's the kind of player that I love working with. He's worked his socks off on the training ground and that's all I can ask for as a manager."
Coyle said he did not think that Nugent's confidence had been
dented by his barren run at Portsmouth, where he was most frequently deployed as a right-winger.
"I would hope he has the self-belief, he's a very good player," Coyle said.
"I mentioned to him the other night that I think it is important for him to get some game time and training under his belt at a high intensity, and getting some sharpness into his game. But once he has done that, there is no doubt he will score goals for Burnley Football Club.
"He's itching to get involved, itching to play.
"He could have gone to a couple of other places in the Premier League so we're delighted that he has wanted to come and be involved here."
Coyle said that he would not resort to all-out defensive tactics at Anfield, despite the prospect of having to contend with the attacking threat of Fernando Torres and England's two-goal hero, Steven Gerrard.
"We'll go in there and try to be positive where we can," Coyle said.
"We'll look to pass and move the ball and we'll take it from there. We're looking forward to the game with Liverpool.
"There's no doubt about it, they have some unbelievably gifted players. Torres and Gerrard are two that could play for anybody in world football.
"But as a player, coach, manager, you want to play against these players, against the best teams.
"Liverpool tick every box in that department. The atmosphere at Anfield will be fantastic and we want to play a big part in that."
He continued: "There's no doubt that he (Gerrard) is a truly world-class player. But the nature of football is that it's 11 versus 11, and not all of those necessarily behind the ball!
"We'll go there and try and make a game of it and try and play our game.
"We'll be respectful of the threats that Liverpool have with all these talented players. But it's up to us when we get the ball to try and create some problems of our own."
Liverpool 1/6, Draw 11/2, Burnley 16/1
