DANNY Lafferty has extended his loan spell with Rotherham United until the end of the season.
The 25-year-old has started four games for the Championship strugglers during his initial stay at the New York Stadium before heading off for international duty with Northern Ireland last week, featuring in their 1-0 friendly defeat at Hampden Park to Scotland.
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The left back had appeared just twice for Burnley this season, coming on as a substitute in the 1-0 win over Southampton, and then starting the FA Cup draw with Tottenham at Turf Moor.
Since his move to join the Millers he has impressed manager Steve Evans, who was delighted to be able to extend his loan deal until the end of the Football League season on May 2.
“He’s a level-headed boy, a quiet boy by nature, although he’s not quiet on the pitch,” said the Rotherham manager.
“It would be hard to go and find another player as good as him, at this stage of the season, who’s not in someone’s first team.
“I was really pleased when the Burnley manager, Sean Dyche, rang me and followed up on my request and said we’d extend the loan.”
The fact the Football League season ends at the beginning of May means Lafferty will be available for Burnley’s final three Premier League games, against Hull, Stoke and Aston Villa.
Rotherham are locked in a battle to survive in the Championship after successive promotions, with a five-point gap between them and Wigan, who currently occupy the last relegation spot.
Lafferty played in the win over Huddersfield but Evans’ side have since lost their last three games.
Despite that, Evans is pleased to have Lafferty’s quality on board.
“He doesn’t get fazed,” the manager said. “He’s a full international. He’s in early stretching.
“His preparation is great. That always gives you the chance to be a footballer.
“Danny is getting more match fit with each game that goes by.
“Against Forest he got into the last third of the pitch in the second half more times than he’s ever done for us.
“His quality wasn’t as good as it should be, he knows that.
“He’s been working on it.”
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