It is a Turf Moor return for Andy Payton who left the Clarets just over two years ago to bring a career to an end that had seen him play for Hull, Middlesbrough, Celtic and Huddersfield as well as tonight’s two clubs.
Payts was for three years worshipped by the Turf Moor crowd as his goals twice kept us up and then took us up as he looked to smash all Turf Moor goal scoring records. That it came to an abrupt and premature end remains a disappointment as the Natural Born Claret spent much of his last three years at the Turf with hardly a first team game.
When he walks out tonight he might take a look at the Cricket Field End where he scored his favourite Burnley goal against Cambridge and if he glances at the Jimmy Mac end it will be to remember his three hat trick goals (all scored in that goal) and not the one he scored against us eleven years ago.
He’ll get the reception he deserves tonight – welcome back ANDY, ANDY PAYTON.