Monday, January 2, 2023 at 6:39 PM• Wessel Antes • Last update: 19:04

Ian Maatsen was worth gold for Burnley on Monday afternoon during the 1-2 away win over Swansea City. The twenty-year-old left back was responsible for both goals the Clarets, who are currently top of the Championship. The goals of Maatsen, who was heavily linked to Feyenoord last summer, were both from outside the sixteen-meter area.

Maatsen is an important player for Burnley under Vincent Kompany. On Monday he was allowed to moor for a free kick after twelve minutes, which he managed to use via the left post. Ten minutes later, the wing defender was again accurate when Swansea goalkeeper Steven Benda was outwitted by the left foot from a distance: 0-2. For Maatsen, that meant his fourth goal of the season, while he also delivered the same number of assists.

Midfielder Oli Cooper brought back the tension on behalf of Swansea before half-time with the 1-2, but the Jacks couldn’t level up anymore. With the win, Burnley’s lead over Blackburn Rovers, which is third, is now no less than fourteen points. Since the first two teams are promoted directly to the Premier League, Kompany is already well underway with his team. Maatsen is officially still from Chelsea, where he is under contract until mid-2024. Last summer, he chose a rental at Burnley over employment at Feyenoord.