Burnley goalkeeper Nick Pope has revealed he is an Ipswich Town fan - and reject.

Pope was cut loose by the Ipswich academy as a 16 year-old.

"It seems a million miles away at the minute," Pope said this week when asked to look back on the day he was released by the Tractor Boys.

“To come this far is a long journey and something I could never have pictured back then."

He continued: "Looking back it was the best thing that happened. It gave me a jolt and forced a change in my life that I probably needed. And in my football as well.

“It has worked out but I was devastated at the time. It wasn't a surprise. I had seen it coming.

“I was low on confidence, didn't think I was good enough. I remember the games. I wasn't playing well, wasn't playing good football and I was called into a meeting. I was waiting for the bad news, really."

Meanwhile, Clarets boss Sean Dyche bristles at claims of his football being route one.

"Football has to be effective, it's as simple as that. Working with your group to be effective is my number one priority," he said.

“After that it's can we find the right balance for it to be enjoyable for the players and the fans?

“I've said it a million times, but I like mixed football because it increases the chances of getting the outcome you want.

“We've got to continue to improve with the ball and I think we're doing that this season, not only to calm the game down and manage the game but also be productive with it.

“But we want to mix that up, we want to be awkward and hard to handle. There has to be a balance to it in our view.

“Somewhere down the line, with a different group, you might look at it differently."