Burnley benchwarmer: Claret star has spent most time on the bench in the Premier League this season

After assessing every game from the 2016/17 and '17/18 Premier League seasons so far, a bookmaker has calculated how much some top-flight footballers have earned by being sat on the bench, with a certain Burnley midfielder top of the pile.
By The Newsroom
Published 13th Apr 2018, 15:25 BST
Updated 13th Apr 2018, 15:31 BST
A couple of Burnley players feature in the top 10 for players who have spent the most time on the bench this season.A couple of Burnley players feature in the top 10 for players who have spent the most time on the bench this season.
A couple of Burnley players feature in the top 10 for players who have spent the most time on the bench this season.

After signing from Aston Villa on deadline day of the January transfer window in 2017, Claret Ashley Westwood can lay claim to being the Premier League footballer who has spent most time on the bench this season, with a staggering one day, 14 hours, and 19 minutes spent waiting for a signal to warm up from manager Sean Dyche.

Following not far behind in eighth place, defender Kevin Long has spent one day and nine hours on the bench for seventh-placed Burnley this season, but hope springs eternal for the Irish international with his teammate, James Tarkowski, having spent 1 day, 23 hours and 32 minutes on the bench last season before a meteoric reversal which has seen him enjoy almost exactly the same amount of time this season (1 day, 23 hours and 30 minutes) out on the pitch and earn a cap with England.

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With Dyche's side looking to consolidate their place as a Premier League regular, Sam Vokes has been the biggest victim of Burnley's success, spending 32% more time on the bench already this year than in the entirety of 2016/17 – 1 day, 8 hours and 38 minutes already compared to 21 hours and 6 minutes last year.

Ashley Westwood (centre) has spent over 38 hours on the bench for Burnley this season.Ashley Westwood (centre) has spent over 38 hours on the bench for Burnley this season.
Ashley Westwood (centre) has spent over 38 hours on the bench for Burnley this season.

Away from Turf Moor, the research - conducted by bwin - found that Crystal Palace's Pape Souare is exclusively a benchwarmer, having spent 16 matches (24 hours) on the bench this season without playing a single minute of football while Manchester City legend Yaya Toure has spent over 24 hours longer on the bench in their title winning campaign - 1 day, 8 hours, and 47 minutes - on the bench this season compared to just 6 hours and 39 minutes last season.

For more information, head to https://sports.bwin.com/en/news/football/time-on-the-bench

Related topics:BurnleyPremier LeagueSean DycheJames Tarkowski