EDGAR IS A CLARET

As we mentioned yesterday on the blog, David Edgar is set to sign with Burnley, now it appears official, as reported by the Burnley website.

Edgar will wear the number 15 shirt for Owen Coyle's squad and looks to be a regular in the squad throughout the season.

The Canadian International will earn close to £10,000 a week at Burnley, for whom he has already completed a medical, and crucially for the Canada international, has been guaranteed first-team football. Edgar was reluctant to sign a deal with Burnley after being at Newcastle since the age of 14 and having come through their academy.

Birmingham City had also shown interest in Edgar but the player opted for Burnley, who will play in England's top flight next season for the first time in 33 years. Despite the fact Edgar is a free agent, Newcastle are entitled to compensation as he is under 23 years of age and has come through their academy. The two clubs will begin discussions on the size of the fee today.

Two things I like about this move. Edgar gets to play regular first team football and he gets to do so, in the premier league. This is going to be fantastic for the Canadian National squad. It is only going to benefit the team down the road as they will now attempt to qualify for the 2014. The young players will have to step up.

The second thing is that it shows that some Canadians that play in a top league will continue to play for Canada. We reported earlier in the week that Asmir Begovic has decided to play for Bosnia and Herzegovina after the manager, Mirolsav "Ciro" Blazevic, told sportsport.ba that he had decided to play for them and not us. Now, I am still holding out hope (because Begovic hasn't played for B&H yet) that Edgar will give his fellow U-20 squad member a call and tell him that the two of them should be the ones to lead Canada to the big time. They are the next generation of players, actually the first generation of players. to truly lead Canada to glory.

DAVID EDGAR SET TO STAY IN THE PREMIERSHIP

Owen Coyle is continuing to strengthen his newly-promoted Burnley squad and has now almost completed the signing of David Edgar from Newcastle United.

Edgar is the first player to leave Newcastle United to spark off what could be a mass exodus at St James’s Park.

The Canadian defender was offered a new contract to stay on in Newcastle but has signed a four-year deal with newly promoted Premier League outfit Burnley.

The 22-year-old ended his Toon career in devastating fashion after being red-carded at Aston Villa on the day that United lost their top flight status last month.

However, Edgar never let United down when selected and was rarely used in his natural position of centre-back, where he often shone as captain of the reserves.

Indeed when he did play in the heart of defence at Stoke City in April he put in a man of the match display.

The son of former Toon keeper Eddie Edgar will always be remembered for his howitzer against Manchester United in the 2-2 draw in 2007, and he also netted against Liverpool in the 5-1 loss on Tyneside last season.

Edgar wanted to join the Turf Moor club on loan last season in November but the move was blocked by United amidst an injury crisis under Joe Kinnear.

And there was no chance for him to move on loan during January for exactly the same reason.

Edgar made just 23 appearances for Newcastle but was restricted to limited first team opportunities under a host of different managers including the man who handed him his debut in Glenn Roeder, Sam Allardyce, Kevin Keegan, Joe Kinnear and Alan Shearer.

United will be entitled to compensation for Edgar because of his age and because he came through the club's Academy since the age of 14.

Fellow newly promoted side Birmingham were also interested in signing the North American.

Fans of the Canadian can make the trek down the I-5 to see Burnley play in Portland when they face the Timbers in a friendly in July.