THE memories of the final day of last season are still painful for David Edgar, but he’s looking forward to banishing them with Burnley.

Newcastle were 1-0 down and chasing the equaliser they needed to stay up when the defender was sent off in stoppage time, for a second yellow card, following two fouls in the last 10 minutes on Aston Villa livewire Ashley Young.

His dismissal meant he could neither commiserate with his relegated team-mates, nor applaud the Toon Army for their unstinting support in a miserable season.

“I tried (to come out of the tunnel). I wanted to go over and clap the fans, but they said I had to go back in the changing rooms,” said Edgar, whose red card at Villa Park means he will miss Burnley’s Premier League opener at Stoke on August 15 through suspension.

“It’s disappointing for two silly yellow cards but I’ve just got to get on with it.

“I was thrown in at right back against Ashley Young. What are you supposed to do?!

“Other than that I thought I played all right. As a team we just didn’t look like we were going to score. All we needed was that one goal because all the other results went our way. We needed one goal to stay in the Premier League.

“It was disappointing obviously, but that’s football.”

Although Newcastle, the club Edgar has served since he was 14, will always be in his heart, in terms of his career, it’s in the past. Burnley is very much his future.

“I’m at Burnley now and I’m excited,” said the 22-year-old Canadian.

“The manager tried to get me on loan last season, twice I think, but because of injuries at Newcastle I couldn’t go.

“It’s a whole different experience for me because I’ve never left Newcastle or even been out on loan before.

“Some of the senior pros (at Newcastle) have text me saying ‘congratulations, it’s a great move for you’. Some of the younger lads I’m still in touch with.

“Newcastle’s in the past for me now. I hope they get out of that league as soon as possible and that someone buys the club, because at the end of the day I’m a supporter and class myself as an adopted Geordie I guess.

“But I’m at Burnley now and I’m 110 per cent focused on keeping Burnley in the Premier League.”

He added: “The move came at the perfect time for me, with what’s happened at Newcastle and Burnley coming up I couldn’t have picked anything better.

“It was tough leaving Newcastle but it made it a lot easier that I was coming here.

“The gaffer’s made me feel welcome, and all the boys. You can just tell the team spirit, so I’m looking forward to starting.

“Obviously I want the lads to win at Stoke, but hopefully after that I’ll play a part in the Manchester United game and for the rest of the season.”

The Clarets opening set of fixtures are a mouthwatering yet daunting prospect.

After a trip to fortress Britannia Stadium, Coyle’s Premier League newcomers face three of the top four, but Edgar doesn’t believe any of them should hold any fear for Burnley.

“You can hear in the gaffer’s voice the ambition he has and the certain qualities his players have and the players he’s looking for have,” he said.

“It is a very young team, and it’s going to be good in the Premier League I think. The style of play is going to suit the Premier League, definitely.”

As a teenager, Edgar had a choice of two careers; ice hockey – the national sport – or football. Following in the footsteps of his father Eddie, a former goalkeeper for Newcastle and Hartlepool, he picked the latter. And the Canada Under 20 international is relishing an opportunity to break new ground.

“Tomasz Radzinski played at Everton and Fulham for a bit. It’s massive to be from Canada and be able to play football in the Premier League,” said the Kitchener-born defender.

“I’m proud, and I really noticed back home that they took a keen interest into how my career’s panning out.

“I’m just happy to be here and the gaffer’s told me if I’m playing well I’m in and if I’m not I’m out. That’s how it goes.

“But just to be given the opportunity to play is a major thing.”