Burn-ing desire

TOUGH COOKIE: Jonathan Burn isn’t grumbling, despite being in the wars during recent matches.

DEFENDER Jonathan Burn is taking every positive he can from his steep learning experience with Athletic.

Burn (20) has settled well into his loan stay at Oldham, having made nine appearances so far. He has formed a good understanding with James Wilson at the heart of the Athletic defence and under new boss David Dunn could scarcely be happier. He has even suggested he would be happy to extend his loan stay beyond January

“I’m playing league football so it can’t get better than that for a young player like me. It’s all going good so far.

“League One has been everything I expected, to be honest. I knew it would be physical battles all the way and that’s what it’s turned out like so far. I’m getting so much out of my time here. The experience is proving invaluable.”

Burn has taken some hard, physical knocks since getting stuck into the cut and thrust of third-tier football. And “cut” proved the operative word during the 1-1 draw at Doncaster: a bruising battle ended with Burn forced off after two big knocks to the head that needed stitches.

On Saturday against Wigan he had to undergo treatment during the game after falling on his shoulder.

“I am getting a lot of knocks, but it has to be done,” he said. “It’s all part of the game and, like the gaffer said, I’ll get a lot more whacks. I just need to take them on the chin and try to play on.”

The team’s steady progression under Dunn has been clear for Athletic fans to see since the new boss’s debut game at Doncaster. There’s much more to come, insists Burn.

He said: “We know we’re capable of playing much better football than we have been so far this season, and there is renewed confidence in the dressing room. The players like Dunny, so they’re going to play for him. We all look up to him.”