How ex-Spurs wonderkid went from Lionel Messi comparisons to brutal Burnley situation | OneFootball

Mauricio Pochettino once compared Marcus Edwards to Lionel Messi, but now he has been omitted from Burnley's Championship squad

Burnley have had a tough start to life back in the Championship, and recent news of some key omissions from their 25-man squad list has raised more questions than it has answered.

Burnley's 1-1 draw away to Wrexham on Tuesday night takes the Clarets to just three points from six games, having drawn three and lost three so far, with Lancashire rivals Preston North End the only team beneath them at this stage.

Belgian head coach Nicky Hayen hasn't endured the start to life at Turf Moor that he, or anyone else at the club for that matter, would have hoped for.

With clubs across the Championship needing to submit their 25-man squad list for the league on Tuesday night, the Clarets have left out some notable names from their selections, including that of Marcus Edwards.

Marcus Edwards has been omitted from Burnley's 25-man Championship squad

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Edwards, 27, joined Burnley on loan from Portuguese giants Sporting CP in January 2025, and following the Clarets' promotion to the Premier League, turned the deal into a permanent one for around £9.4 million (€11 million).

Having made three appearances in the second tier this season already, it was expected that Edwards would play a key role on the right flank this campaign under Hayen. But, having been left out of the squad for the 2-1 home defeat to Bristol City, the Belgian boss was questioned on his decision amid concerns he may be unselected for the league, with Hayen saying: "We're just looking for the 25-man squad."

It has now been confirmed that Edwards has been left out of the Burnley squad alongside the likes of Bashir Humphreys, Mike Tresor, Michael Obafemi, Jordan Beyer, Shurandy Sambo, Ashley Barnes, and Ben Amos, the latter two of whom were only signed this summer.

Why Marcus Edwards has been left out of Burnley's selection by Nicky Hayen

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Addressing Edwards' omission, Hayen has since said: "I already informed the players one or two weeks ago that we're looking for players, and if they had an option they could go.

"But there are still spots available. Now, with the signing of Jamie [Vardy] of course one [spot is still free].

"So we'll see if Marcus or Mike fill in that spot, but I informed them already that there's a possibility that they don't make the squad list."

The addition of Jamie Vardy on a free transfer indicates that Burnley are indeed looking at the free agent market for potential recruits beyond the summer window, as Edwards, who was once highly rated when coming through the academy of Spurs, has become a casualty of Hayen's selection.

Mauricio Pochettino once compared Marcus Edwards to Lionel Messi

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Indeed, Edwards was once incredibly highly rated coming through the Spurs academy, and indeed by former head coach and current USMNT boss Mauricio Pochettino.

The Argentine head coach led Spurs to a Champions League final in 2019, narrowly missed out on the Premier League title in 2016, and, despite never winning anything of note in North London, still goes down as one of the club's greatest modern-day managers.

Pochettino would hand Edwards his Spurs debut in a 15-minute cameo against Gillingham in the League Cup, and previously likened him to eight-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi, saying: "His qualities … it’s only looks – his body and the way that he plays – remember a little bit from the beginning of Messi."

The winger would make just one senior appearance for Spurs before loan spells with Norwich City and Excelsior on loan, before joining Portuguese side Vitoria Guimaraes in 2019.

Whilst the former England youth international has shown glimpses of his undoubted talent throughout his career, at 27, time is running out for Edwards to prove his quality at the highest level on a consistent basis, and this recent Burnley omission will do him few favours.

Certainly, the Messi comparison from Pochettino was premature at best, and from there, he was doomed to fail to live up to the hype.

Marcus Edwards faces career crossroads after Burnley blow

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With his Burnley future looking perilous, Edwards finds himself at a career crossroads when he ought to be in the prime of his career.

Having made 23 Premier League appearances just last season, scoring once and assisting three times, the Englishman is clearly capable of playing a role in the top flight, making his exclusion in the Championship all the more troubling.