Scott Parker praises 'passionate' Lyle Foster as Bafana star ends goal drought in huge Burnley win

Burnley boss Scott Parker was delighted after Bafana Bafana attacker Lyle Foster ended his 10-match goal drought when he scored the second in their emphatic 4-0 win over Luton Town in an EFL Championship clash on Saturday.

The win saw promotion-chasing Burnley keep up the pace with the top two as they bid to return to the Premier League at the first time of asking.

Speaking after the game, Parker said he was particularly pleased that 24-year-old Foster managed to bag himself a goal.

"I was buzzing for Lyle. It's been clear that maybe over the course of the last few games, Lyle's missed some big chances, but fundamentally, he's a boy with an absolutely humongous heart, passion, desire, and I think you saw that today,” Parker said when speaking with the club’s website.

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“Eyes don't lie when you step in a football stadium. First and foremost, you step over a line and I think one thing the fanbase want and people want is an energy, a desire, a passion, Lyle seems to always deliver that, so I was pleased that he managed to get his goal."

A lot has been made about the Bafana star’s struggles in front of goal this season, but he has always had the backing of the manager.

When speaking about Foster three weeks ago, Parker said he was happy with Foster’s contribution to the team despite his lack of goals.

“… He's been incredible really. He's come off the back of a long-ish injury, and he's been [good]... even against Preston, his general game was brilliant. He gives us our options, he's sharp, he's technically nice, and he's been superb,” Parker said at the time.

Foster suffered a serious knee injury after a clash with the goalkeeper during Bafana Bafana’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Congo at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha last October.

IOL Sport