Source: FOOTYMAD
Eckersley enjoying Toronto
It's fair to say that Richard Eckersley's move from Manchester United to Burnley hasn't, as yet, worked out just as he might have hoped. Having turned down the offer of a new contract at Old Trafford he signed for Burnley in July 2009 ahead of our Premier League season. Two years later and his only competitive action in a Burnley shirt has come in the two cup competitions and his league appearances have been in loans at Plymouth Argyle, Bradford City and Bury. He was at Bury in April this year when suddenly the loan was cancelled to allow him to move again, this time to Toronto FC in Ontario, Canada, in a loan until January 2012. It's not been a good season so far for the MLS club and they currently sit in bottom place in the Eastern Conference. However, Eckersley has been one of the bright spots in this difficult season and it seems they'd like to make his move there more permanent. How did this loan move come about in the first place? Toronto FC's director of player development is former Ipswich and England striker Paul Mariner and he was the manager at Plymouth, another of his former clubs, who signed Eckersley on loan in the 2009/10 season. When asked what he gives to the team, Mariner was full of praise, and said: "Professionalism, pace, great leadership by example on the field of play and a role model for the academy players." The Toronto club are concerned that Burnley might recall him in January but how does Eckersley himself feel about that. In an interview this week he said: "Toronto has shown all the eagerness to play me, and have given me this opportunity and allowed me to try to be an influence. "I love it here in Toronto. I love everything about it; the club, the staff and the fans. I love playing for Aron Winter [the Toronto FC head coach] because he lets us go and express ourselves on the field, which is massively important for a footballer. I enjoy it here." He's had no talks about his future and confirmed that there has been no contact with Burnley since he arrived in Canada. "Nobody has said anything," he admitted. "I think we're just taking it a game at a time and then seeing where it goes from there. I've got over 18 months left on my contract with Burnley. It's not worked out there, but we'll see how it goes." He is disappointed that he's not heard from Burnley. "Obviously, it's out of sight and out of mind. It's very strange," he said.
