Swedish international Hjalmar Ekdal insists that he's on his "own journey" as Burnley close in on a Premier League return
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But the Swedish international insists that he's on his own journey in England having switched from Djugaardens at the start of the calendar year.
The 24-year-old has hit the ground running since his move to Turf Moor and he feels as though he's in the perfect place to continue his development.
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Hide Ad"We're at the top of the Championship, which is a really good league, and I get to play most of the games," said the centre back. "For my personal development it's really good to be here playing.
![Burnley's Hjalmar Ekdal
The EFL Sky Bet Championship - Blackpool v Burnley - Saturday 4th March 2023 - Bloomfield Road - Blackpool](https://www.burnleyexpress.net/webimg/b25lY21zOjFjOWZkODVjLThjZDEtNDllMC1iZDY0LTFkOTUwZWY5NDg1NToyOGNhYTkxOS1iZWYxLTRkNWUtOTI0ZC0xOTRkNjYzYmIzOWM=.jpg?crop=3:2,smart&width=640&quality=65)
![Burnley's Hjalmar Ekdal
The EFL Sky Bet Championship - Blackpool v Burnley - Saturday 4th March 2023 - Bloomfield Road - Blackpool](/img/placeholder.png)
"Hopefully, if we get promoted, it will be even tougher next year, but with how we learn and train every day I couldn't be in a better place. I'm going to be a better player.
"I'm on my own journey. Before I came here I didn't think about other Swedish players, I just thought that Burnley would be a very exciting option, especially with Vincent Kompany and the team doing so well. It's good to be in a team with harmony and that is winning games. I think it's easier to play your game and become a better footballer."
Ekdal has contributed to five clean sheets in seven appearances for the Clarets so far, including the one against Blackpool at Bloomfield Road at the weekend.
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Hide AdHe's already partnered Jordan Beyer, Ameen Al-Dakhil and Charlie Taylor at the heart of defence since joining the club, which might have proved challenging when trying to find his own feet.
![Burnley's Hjalmar Ekdal is tackled by Blackpool's Curtis Nelson
The EFL Sky Bet Championship - Blackpool v Burnley - Saturday 4th March 2023 - Bloomfield Road - Blackpool](https://www.burnleyexpress.net/webimg/b25lY21zOjM5MjdhZjc2LTAxMTItNGQ2OS04NmQxLWViYjdlNjExMjM2ZDo3MjgzYzhkMS0yOWU1LTQ3YzQtYTA1OC05MWM5NzIwOGI0ODM=.jpg?crop=3:2,smart&width=640&quality=65)
![Burnley's Hjalmar Ekdal is tackled by Blackpool's Curtis Nelson
The EFL Sky Bet Championship - Blackpool v Burnley - Saturday 4th March 2023 - Bloomfield Road - Blackpool](/img/placeholder.png)
However, the centre-half hasn't had any issues. He said: "Everyone is good so it isn't a challenge to play with anyone. Myself and [Jordan] Beyer have been pretty good lately, so I like playing with him.
"He's a brilliant defender, we bounce off each other really well with the quality we have. We match each other really well.
"It [the time] has gone really quickly, much quicker than I'd expected, so I'm really satisfied with that. I'm six weeks in at the moment."
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Hide AdFinally, Ekdal has credited the man responsible for bringing him to the club, Vincent Kompany, for the role he's played, and continues to play, in his growth as a player.
Speaking about the Manchester City legend, who made almost 500 appearances for club and country, he concluded: "It's been exciting. He's talking to me about things I hadn't even heard before I came here. His view of football is so different, it's much more than I've looked at before, so you learn stuff that you didn't think about before.
"That's a really good thing and every talk you have with him you get better. I couldn't be at a better place with that in mind. He'll criticise me at every training session."