Scott Parker says John Egan is a key reason why his Burnley side have gone on to set a Championship record 10 clean sheets in a row.
The Clarets notched up that impressive accolade with a 2-0 win over Hull City last Wednesday night, a game in which Egan made his Tigers debut barely a week after leaving Turf Moor for the MKM Stadium before adding another in their goalless draw at rivals Preston North End on Saturday to make it 11.
Egan made his home debut against Norwich City over the weekend, with the Tigers held to a 1-1 draw, and against the second-top scorers in the league, the experienced campaigner delivered a composed display alongside Alfie Jones, and will have more competition for places once highly-rated youngster Charlie Hughes returns from injury.
“Game time was lacking for John, which I understood; I didn’t see any change in habits or behaviours. He’s a consistent man, someone with some real core values and core principles, and he helped us no end. He was a contributing factor to why these young centre-halves and this young back four are doing so well.
“He’s experienced, his nouce and it’s just his general professionalism on a daily basis was something that them boys would look up to really just saying it’s a mark of how well they are doing.”
It’s a mark of how well the Clarets have been playing defensively that Egan, a Championship promotion-winning skipper with Sheffield United, couldn’t get in the team, and Joe Worrall, who guided Nottingham Forest back to the Premier League, has been restricted to appearances off the bench, including against the Tigers last Wednesday evening.
