After making an unexpected comeback to Burnley during the January transfer window, Ashley Barnes has issued a message to the team’s supporters.
Barnes joined Norwich City in the summer of 2023, ending his nine-year tenure at Turf Moor. However, just eighteen months later, the seasoned striker has made an unexpected comeback to the Lancashire.
Before being let go after the Clarets won the 2022–2023 Championship, the 35-year-old made 293 appearances for the team, scoring 55 goals and helping them earn three promotions to the Premier League.
After leaving Norwich City, he returned to Turf Moor on a temporary loan until the end of the season. This weekend, he will make his Clarets comeback as his team travels to Ewood Park to play fierce rivals Blackburn Rovers.
Barnes’ nine years of service at Turf Moor have made him a Burnley cult figure, and it’s obvious that he’s thrilled to be back at the team where he spent the best years of his career.
After Norwich switched, Ashley Barnes sent a message to Burnley FC fans.
Many were caught off guard when Barnes’ return to Turf Moor was revealed late Thursday night, but the Bath-born striker talked about how much it meant to him to rejoin the team after an 18-month absence.
Barnes remarked in an interview with Burnley’s official website: “It’s great to be home! For more than ten years, Burnley has played a significant role in my life, and I am eager to don the Claret shirt once more.
The 35-year-old, who has participated in several Lancashire derbies against Blackburn Rovers, including one in which he scored a brace during the 2022–2023 season, made it apparent that he understood the significance of this weekend’s match and that he was prepared for the journey to Ewood Park.
“I understand the significance of this match for the fans, and it holds equal significance for me,” he remarked. They can be confident that every time I don the Burnley badge, I will be giving it my all for this team.
Ashley Barnes’ return will be welcomed by Burnley fans.
Barnes is a Turf Moor fan favourite, and even if his greatest days are over, the 35-year-old will add a wealth of experience to Scott Parker’s team as they aim to return to the top flight right away.
Despite not being a consistent starter, Barnes is still a strong goal scorer at the Championship level, and having him on the bench will greatly improve the Clarets’ chances of promotion in the second half of the season.
Barnes understands how to leave the Championship after earning three promotions to the Premier League with Burnley, so the opportunity to earn four promotions with the Clarets was too good to pass up.
The best way to celebrate his comeback would be with a derby against Blackburn Rovers, and given how important the match is to the team, it wouldn’t be shocking to see Barnes play some role on Saturday at Ewood Park.
