Sonne aiming to nail FA Cup audition for Burnley
Oliver Sonne has had no trouble settling into his new life at Burnley, moving into a city centre apartment in Manchester with his partner and with the club even arranging the safe arrival of their dog from Denmark.
But if all is going smoothly for the £2.5million January arrival from Silkeborg off the pitch, forcing a way into the tightest defence in Europe has proved slightly more tricky.
Burnley's back-line has rightly earned plaudits this season for leaking just nine goals, making it the Fort Knox of English and European football.
And while that continued excellence is keeping the Clarets and their winter addition on track for the Premier League, it is also keeping the 24-year-old on the sidelines.
"In this situation we are in, where we have conceded nine goals, it is pretty difficult for me to go to the manager and say 'hey gaffer we need to change the back four because we are not doing anything good!' Sonne laughed to BBC Radio Lancashire.
"It is impressive, it's crazy and it is quite extraordinary and I want to be a part of it. But it is really difficult to come in here and say we have to change it so it is difficult for me to come in and show what I think I am very good at.
"Hopefully there are going to be opportunities for me and I'm sure there will be. I have to get them and then do my best on the pitch."
With a Clarets career to date limited to seven minutes against Sunderland and an FA Cup outing against Reading in the third round, Sonne's chance for a third appearance is finally set to come against Southampton on Saturday.
And the 24-year-old Danish-born Peru international, who qualifies for the South American country courtesy of a Peruvian grandmother, is determined to nail his audition at St Mary's.
"I want to show all the things I believe I am good at and I'm sure the manager will look my way because the games come thick now," said Sonne.
"I am here for a reason and I hope that I also perform on the training ground enough to get my chance in a game very soon. It is the manager's decision but I am here to wait for the opportunity and go and perform my best."
Sonne won the Danish Cup with Silkeborg last season and, having played Copa America and World Cup qualifiers away against Brazil and Argentina, facing up to Lionel Messi no less, he knows about the special atmosphere of knockout football.
"Obviously the FA Cup is a massive competition, I was lucky enough to win the cup in Denmark last year so I know what cup games mean – there is just a different atmosphere in the stadiums," he said.
"I felt that straight away when I got my debut in the FA Cup. We had a tricky game against Reading but in the end we got the result we wanted."
Victory against Saints is the result Burnley want with a fifth-round tie up for grabs but for Sonne, a clean sheet would be welcome given the high bar to get a look in the defence at Turf Moor these days.
