South African and Leeds United legend Lucas Radebe has urged Bafana Bafana and Burnley star Lyle Foster not to view The Clarets’ relegation from the Premier League as a failure.
Radebe has urged the talented Johannesburg-born striker to focus on working his way back up to the top flight again and do his best for the national team.
Foster and Burnley suffered an immediate relegation from the Premier League back to the English Championship at the end of the recently completed 2023/2024 season.
Burnley’s relegation added to what has been a difficult maiden season in the Premier League for Foster.
The 23-year-old battled mental health issues that saw him withdraw from national team duty for the Africa Cup of Nations.
“For me, it’s not a failure to go down (to the Championship), he is still playing at the highest level,” Radebe told the media at a recent event in Johannesburg.
“There’s still a lot of competition in the Championship.
“That will show his character and obviously he has to make other teams want him because there are opportunities out there. Whether you play at the lowest level or at the highest level.
“If you play at the highest level, how far can you go? At least if you are playing at a low level, you know that you can go one step up.”
He's here to stay! 😍
— Burnley FC (@BurnleyOfficial) October 26, 2023
Lyle Foster has signed a new five-year contract with the Clarets, keeping him at Turf Moor until 2028! 🇿🇦 pic.twitter.com/oe0jjGM5tK
Radebe said Foster should use the Championship to grow as a player and also play his way back to the top again.
“I think that’s what Lyle has to do, and he will still be an asset for the national team. He is still playing football at the highest level for both the country and the club,” Radebe said.
“And for the fact that he has done so well, there will always be teams for players like that. He will get his chance to play longer, maybe at the Premier League or anywhere else at the highest level.”
Foster proved an influential player for Burnley as he scored five goals in the Premier League alongside three assists in 24 appearances.
This will be the second time Foster campaigns in the Championship after he joined the Clarets in January 2023 and helped them gain promotion to the Premier League.
Lyle Foster goal. pic.twitter.com/tR1bYoDh79
— Andile Ncube (@AndileNcube) September 12, 2023
