Marlon is back

Last updated : 05 September 2002 By Tony Scholes
The first time was at the end of January when he was brought in on loan from Middlesbrough following the calf injury Nik Michopoulos sustained in the FA Cup defeat at Cheltenham.

Marlon returned to a hero's welcome when he came out for his first game against West Brom but his return was marked with a 2-0 defeat. During his stay he played his 300th game in all competitions for Burnley and also his 250th league appearance.

In all he made thirteen appearances during his loan period before being recalled to the Riverside Stadium by manager Steve McLaren. We were pretty average during his stay and won 4, drew 5 and lost 4 of the games. Marlon kept just one clean sheet, at Stockport, and conceded in a total of fifteen goals.

It looked certain that he would return permanently during the summer but despite training with us and playing for us in the Isle of Man we were unable to make him an offer and he took up the option of playing for York for a month. He has played in all six of their games this season and has conceded eight goals with one clean sheet as York have made a good start to the season.

The North Yorkshire club were keen to keep him but were helpless once a deal was on offer at Turf Moor. The deal is though for just a month but Marlon was delighted to return and told the club's web site,

"I never really wanted to leave in the first place but if you have ambition you want to play at the highest level possible. It's a shame that I had to leave in the first place but with the financial situation it happened."

So rather than being in the York squad tomorrow night Marlon will now be in the Burnley squad for Saturday's game at Derby where Stan will now have a squad of sixteen to choose from. Whether Marlon starts or takes a place on the bench remains to be seen.