Burnley FC manager Vincent Kompany has leapt to his own defence over his decision to play South African striker Lyle Foster out of position when the Clarets need more goals to escape Premier League relegation.
Kompany's decision to feature the self-exiled Bafana Bafana player off the right wing backfired in the 1-0 loss to Everton last weekend with Burnley fans clearly not amused.
The fans, according to Burnley Express newspaper, questioned Kompany's decision to prefer the former Orlando Pirates player in the wing at the expense of natural options such as Manuel Benson.
However, Kompany insisted that Foster, just like the rest of Burnley players, has to adapt and be ready to play where ever he is redeployed.
"Our players have always been flexible, always,” he told the newspaper.
"Lyle has already done it 15 or 20 times since he’s been with us, every player has done it, so I can’t control the perception. It’s an error to see it that way, but I don’t control that.”
The Manchester City legend said the issue of where the South African plays in attack is a matter of perception as, in actual fact, he turns into a striker when the Clarets are in possession.
“It’s a perception from the outside, but if you look at his position in possession, he played exactly the same position as he’s always played. But it’s a perception thing," he added.
“It’s 100 per cent part of something we’ve always done with our players, they’ve always had to be flexible to be able to be in different roles."
The Johannesburg-born forward has endured mixed fortunes in his Premier League debut season after his flying start was slowed down by mental Illness issues that further saw him making an unpopular decision to forgo Bafana Bafana's 2023 Afcon campaign in Ivory Coast.
That Foster has been able to play for the Premier League strugglers yet insists on staying away from Bafana Bafana is an issue that has not pleased coach Hugo Broos and most South African football fans.