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<DIV id=viewarticle><DIV class=ds-headline id=ds-headline>Gifton Making His Turf Mark!</DIV><DIV class=ds-firstpara id=ds-firstpara>STEVE Cotterill feels the club are beginning to see the real Gifton Noel-Williams.
</DIV><DIV class=va-bodytext id=va-bodytext>The former Watford man has had his troubles during his time at Turf Moor.
But he was praised by his manager yesterday, for his form in Andy Gray's absence.
He said: "The one thing about Gifton is that he is a team player.
"He's not selfish, and he's probably one of our brightest footballers.
"He sees pictures, he understands the game, but sometimes he can be misunderstood, like he was earlier in his career at Burnley.
"But I support his defence, and rightly so, because Gifton had been a lot better this year than he was last year.
"He's fitter this year, which is a big important factor in his game, and I think he's realised that now.
"When we do our runs, Gifton is far better now than he has even been.
"I think that has reflected in his performances, being able to get around the park more, and subsequently he has led the line pretty well, and not just since Andy's absence.
"Even when Andy's played, there have been a few times where Gifton has been the star man on the day."
And he went on to include Kyle Lafferty in his praise: "I think they've done well, but Gifton will probably be more consistent than Kyle.
"We would expect that, but we're delighted with both their efforts in Andy's absence.
"We've just got to make sure we cuddle them, cajole them, kick them up the backside, whatever it needs to get them through a period which is going to be demanding.
"The quicker we get through this period, and try and get through it unscathed, the better."
Fourteen months ago, Cotterill ran the rule over Jamaican teenager Luton Shelton.
The 21-year-old came close to joining the Clarets after a brief trial.
But in the end, Cotterill was denied his capture due to the failure of gaining international clearance.
Now, Shelton had emerged as a possible target for Sheffield United, from his new club, Swedish side Helsingborgs.
And Cotterill admits to being slightly puzzled over the situation: "We have kept track of his progress.
"I've noticed that two other clubs are going to be in for him, so that will be interesting if he gets clearance to play for them, and he doesn't get clearance to play for us.
"We were told, in more or less no uncertain terms, that he wouldn't improve us or improve English football.
"So it will be really interesting to see where he turns up, and it would certainly be something that we might have a look at, and follow that one up.
"Why should he get turned down for Burnley? Is it because he has played in Sweden for a time?
"It would be interesting to see if that has made the difference, him going there, because we went to appeal and everything on him.
"If he does get it (international clearance), then it would be interesting to see if it was the same people who sit on the panel.
"We have kept tabs on him, but you do because he is a good lad, but there's probably no chance of us going back in for him.
"When you get turned down once, you can spend a lot of time and a lot of effort going back again, for them to potentially turn you down.
"That one was disappointing at the time, but I don't know if that one will be revisited."</DIV><DIV class=va-date id=va-date>22 December 2006</DIV><DIV class=left><DIV class=inactive>«Previous Page</DIV></DIV><DIV class=right><DIV class=inactive>Next »</DIV></DIV><DIV class=centre>Page 1 of 1</DIV><BR clear=all><DIV id=morestories>More Clarets News </DIV></DIV><DIV id=accessibilitynav2>
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</DIV><DIV class=va-bodytext id=va-bodytext>The former Watford man has had his troubles during his time at Turf Moor.
But he was praised by his manager yesterday, for his form in Andy Gray's absence.
He said: "The one thing about Gifton is that he is a team player.
"He's not selfish, and he's probably one of our brightest footballers.
"He sees pictures, he understands the game, but sometimes he can be misunderstood, like he was earlier in his career at Burnley.
"But I support his defence, and rightly so, because Gifton had been a lot better this year than he was last year.
"He's fitter this year, which is a big important factor in his game, and I think he's realised that now.
"When we do our runs, Gifton is far better now than he has even been.
"I think that has reflected in his performances, being able to get around the park more, and subsequently he has led the line pretty well, and not just since Andy's absence.
"Even when Andy's played, there have been a few times where Gifton has been the star man on the day."
And he went on to include Kyle Lafferty in his praise: "I think they've done well, but Gifton will probably be more consistent than Kyle.
"We would expect that, but we're delighted with both their efforts in Andy's absence.
"We've just got to make sure we cuddle them, cajole them, kick them up the backside, whatever it needs to get them through a period which is going to be demanding.
"The quicker we get through this period, and try and get through it unscathed, the better."
Fourteen months ago, Cotterill ran the rule over Jamaican teenager Luton Shelton.
The 21-year-old came close to joining the Clarets after a brief trial.
But in the end, Cotterill was denied his capture due to the failure of gaining international clearance.
Now, Shelton had emerged as a possible target for Sheffield United, from his new club, Swedish side Helsingborgs.
And Cotterill admits to being slightly puzzled over the situation: "We have kept track of his progress.
"I've noticed that two other clubs are going to be in for him, so that will be interesting if he gets clearance to play for them, and he doesn't get clearance to play for us.
"We were told, in more or less no uncertain terms, that he wouldn't improve us or improve English football.
"So it will be really interesting to see where he turns up, and it would certainly be something that we might have a look at, and follow that one up.
"Why should he get turned down for Burnley? Is it because he has played in Sweden for a time?
"It would be interesting to see if that has made the difference, him going there, because we went to appeal and everything on him.
"If he does get it (international clearance), then it would be interesting to see if it was the same people who sit on the panel.
"We have kept tabs on him, but you do because he is a good lad, but there's probably no chance of us going back in for him.
"When you get turned down once, you can spend a lot of time and a lot of effort going back again, for them to potentially turn you down.
"That one was disappointing at the time, but I don't know if that one will be revisited."</DIV><DIV class=va-date id=va-date>22 December 2006</DIV><DIV class=left><DIV class=inactive>«Previous Page</DIV></DIV><DIV class=right><DIV class=inactive>Next »</DIV></DIV><DIV class=centre>Page 1 of 1</DIV><BR clear=all><DIV id=morestories>More Clarets News </DIV></DIV><DIV id=accessibilitynav2>
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