Marcus Edwards makes instant impact 18 minutes into English football return

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Marcus Edwards needed just 18 minutes to make his Burnley debut a memorable one.

The substitute scored the match’s sole goal from close range against Southampton to push the Championship side into the FA Cup quarter-finals.

Eyebrows were raised when Edwards moved from Sporting to Burnley in January

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Eyebrows were raised when Edwards moved from Sporting to Burnley in JanuaryCredit: Getty

Scott Parker’s side did not dominate the football as usual, but they were able to have more shots on goal eventually leading to a 1-0 win.

It was a messy goal as the Saints’ failure to clear allowed Hannibal Mejbri to flick the ball into the path of Edwards who set the ball with his right and finished with his left on the volley.

Along with Edwards' goal, Burnley's remarkable defensive streak continued as their latest clean sheet meant they have played almost 600 minutes without conceding a single goal.

It was also the club's tenth clean sheet in their last 11 games.

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Edwards joined the Clarets on loan until the end of the 2024/25 season with an obligation to buy for around £8million if Burnley are promoted to the Premier League.

The stunning move saw Burnley boss Parker reunited with Tottenham Hotspur academy graduate Edwards after their paths crossed at Spurs.

The 26-year-old winger spent 13 years at Tottenham but never made a Premier League appearance despite signing his first professional contract in 2016.

He only played one match for Spurs which was in the 2016/17 EFL Cup third round against Gillingham.

After loans to Norwich City and Excelsior Edwards permanently moved to Portuguese club Vitoria de Guimaraes in 2019. 

Three years later he earned a move to Sporting where he appeared 77 times including 29 Champions and Europa League appearances.

Edwards was previously linked with Premier League clubs such as Everton

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Edwards was previously linked with Premier League clubs such as Everton

In 120 games for Sporting, he has scored 24 goals and assisted 26 times.

He played for two years under Ruben Amorim, impressing in Europe and winning the Primeira Liga title in the 2023/24 season, before the manager took over at Manchester United.

However, since Amorim was replaced by Rui Borges, Edwards has fallen down the pecking order in Lisbon.

Questions have been asked of the player's commitment and Borges recently left him out of the Champions League squad to face Bologna with little explanation.

Edwards was the hero for Burnley as they beat Premier League side Southampton

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Edwards was the hero for Burnley as they beat Premier League side SouthamptonCredit: Getty

If Edwards joins Burnley permanently, it is understood Tottenham would be entitled to a sell-on clause as part of the deal which saw Edwards sold to Sporting in 2019.

In January 2023, Sporting acquired a further 15 per cent of Edwards' economic rights from Tottenham when Pedro Porro was initially loaned and then bought by the north London side.

Parker will hope Edwards continues his heroics as Burnley sit third in the Championship, three points off an automatic promotion.

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