Burke ready for Union return
Published:Thursday | December 26, 2019 | 12:06 AMLivingston Scott/Gleaner Writer
Portmore United will need to look for a replacement for Corey Burke in the January transfer window as the striker is now set for a return to Major League Soccer (MLS) in January. Burke was playing for Philadelphia Union in MLS last year when he encountered visa problems and, since May, became ineligible to play in the United States for the rest of the season.
However, the striker, who has been on loan at the defending Red Stripe Premier League champions has been in good form in the second round of the season, scoring seven goals in eight matches to be the league’s top scorer on 11 goals. He told The Gleaner after netting a brace in a 3-1 win over Vere United at the Spanish Town Prison Oval on Sunday that things are in progress for his return to the Union next year.
“I have been working very hard still and just waiting to hear the next move,” he said. “Everything is in progress and that is what is expected, so I might not finish the season with Portmore. But for now I am here to do my best to help Portmore to reach back on top,” he stated.
The striker is also delighted to be in such rich vein of form ahead of his return to the US.
“As a striker, it doesn’t matter where you are playing,” he said. “You have to score goals. That is what you get paid to do. My agent has been telling me every week that I need to continue scoring goals, so whenever I get back on the international market people will know what to expect. So, definitely, I feel good about how I have ended the year.”
Burke remained under contract with the Union although his visa was not renewed. He is also still being paid by the club. He has scored 16 goals for the Union since joining from Bethlehem Steel in 2018.
Portmore head coach Ricardo Gardner praises him as an invaluable asset this season.
“He has been excellent for us all season,” Gardner said. “His work rate and contribution has done a lot for the team, and the goals are starting to come and that is adding to his performance. He is putting away his chances and his quality is showing now. I can depend on him every game to score one or two because he puts himself in goalscoring positions and he is finishing them.”