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But even Cork struggles to accept Guardiola’s argument that Premier League footballers are overworked. He should know. The England and Burnley midfielder has played every minute of every game this season heading into their FA Cup third round clash at Manchester City.
He admits feeling jaded is just part of being a professional athlete and reckons footballers have to accept it and get on with the job.
Cork said: “I’d never tell the boss I’m tired. I would just play.
“Obviously you’re tired, but we are athletes and it’s part of it. It’s only for a month of the season. It’s not obscene work is it? It’s just about getting through it.
“The season has gone well, and that gives you energy. Sometimes I feel tired, yeah. Christmas has been tough, but we are back in a normal routine now.
“But it’s always been like this at Christmas. I’ve always grown up with this situation. We have a lot of warning that it’s going to be busy at this time of the season and it’s one of those things you have to prepare for.
Manchester City's likely line-up to play Burnley at home
MANCHESTER CITY FC
“I’d never tell the boss I’m tired. I would just play”
Jack Cork
“Football is for the fans and it’s a time they look forward to the most.”
Cork must be a manager’s dream after emerging from the shadow of his dad, former Wimbledon ‘Crazy Gang’ legend Alan Cork, to establish himself as a dedicated, reliable and clean-living professional.
The 28-year-old has even shunned social media this season – he hasn’t tweeted since August – and would rather spend time with sons Arlo and Eden than promote himself online.
He is one of the reasons why the Clarets are having such a remarkable season and his personal reward was a first England call-up in November.
Instead of heading to Dubai for a break with wife Freya and the kids, Cork made his debut against Germany at Wembley and was an unused sub against Brazil a few days later.
Now he has set his sights on making Gareth Southgate’s World Cup squad for Russia.
So has he booked a summer holiday? “Not yet, no,” says Cork with a smile.
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“I always leave it quite late, but I’ve not booked anything yet. One of the obvious reasons is I want to get in the World Cup squad.
“Obviously the clue will come in March when the next squad is named.
“That will be similar to the World Cup squad I’d imagine, so that will be a big indication of who he will take to Russia.
“I only got in last time because a lot of people pulled out. But hopefully I did enough back then to make a good impression. We’ll see who he picks, but I know this could be my one and only chance of going to a World Cup.
“I’ll be 33 next time, so I just need the team to be doing well for me to have one shot at it. I did think England had passed me by. Gareth was calling up younger players he’d worked with and I thought I’d gone too far. I’m just thankful he gave me a shot at it.
“I kept my shirts. Two from each game. I should have got them signed.
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“I gave one to my brother and one to my dad. I’ll have one framed for the house.”
Cork says club boss Dyche can be intimidating at times – a bit like their FA Cup opponents.
He added: “In meetings and around the place with him, what you see is what you get. He’s honest and he’ll tell you what he’s thinking. It’s good to have that in and around the club.
“If you have a problem he’s always open for you to go and talk to him.
“You can have a laugh with him, but at the right time! We don’t prank him though, no. I wouldn’t go that far.
“He’s got that right mix of when to be serious and when to have a laugh, although he can be intimidating.”
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Burnley are flying high in seventh this season and dreaming of qualifying for Europe.
They lost 3-0 at the runaway leaders in October as City notched up a top-flight record of 18 straight wins.
“I think them and Tottenham are the teams that stand out, the most diffi cult we have faced this season,” said Cork. “It’s hard because if you press they have so much rotation you end up leaving pockets of space and they cut straight through you.
“Guardiola changes things a lot too to do things differently, so it’s hard to predict.
“For me personally they do look like one of the best that’s ever been involved in the Premier League. But this is a new game for us and our away form has been good. So it might be an opportunity for us to get a win.”