After starting the season on loan at Hull City from Premier League side Burnley, the midfielder made the move south to join Liam Manning at Ashton Gate at the start of the year, and seemed to effortlessly fit into the Robins’ system.
Two goals in ten league games helped steer the West Country side into the top half of the table by the end of the campaign, and leave Manning wanting to keep the playmaker past the end of his temporary spell at the club.
That might be easier said than done, though, as it’s unlikely that his parent club will trade for the former MK Dons player very soon.
Scott Twine shines for Bristol City after Burnley injury nightmare
Twine can create amazing moments on the pitch, especially in dead-ball situations, as anyone who has followed EFL issues for the past four years will attest to.
With a preference for deftly executed free kicks and the occasional long-ranger in his arsenal, the 24-year-old has surged through the ranks to emerge as one of the Football League’s most exceptional midfielders.
From Swindon Town to Newport County, MK Dons to Burnley, Twine’s career had a remarkable upward trajectory. However, he missed most of the Clarets’ promotion campaign due to an early injury sustained following his rumoured £4 million move to Turf Moor.
Twine was on the periphery of the team as Vincent Kompany’s team added a lot of players in preparation for their Premier League season. In an effort to gain regular football experience, he moved to Hull, which was well-received by all.
Even though he was a bit of a regular for the Tigers’ all-star EFL team, he never appeared to fit well in Liam Rosenior’s lineup, so when the chance to transfer to Bristol presented itself in January, it made sense.
The midfield player hasn’t looked back since moving to Ashton Gate; his debut goal against Watford set the bar for his time in the southwest, and in his final home game against Rotherham United, he sent the team off with a signature free kick.
Liam Manning expresses Bristol City, Scott Twine transfer desire
Given Twine’s obvious impact on the Robins’ offensive production, it is not surprising that Manning is eager to retain Twine for a longer period of time over the summer. The former Oxford United manager even said as much following the team’s victory over Rotherham.
“I’d love to work with him,” he remarked. Although there are numerous obstacles in the way, I believe he suits the club and player profile we have.
“He’s been excellent in my opinion; I believe he has another level he can reach and is beginning to demonstrate that he fits with our goals.”
He simply has a different profile than our current one. It’s expertly put together by him. A few recent opportunities Syksey’s [Mark Sykes] got don’t surprise me; they stem from Twiney’s success.
It’s one of those things where I have to have the conversations in order to understand how it looks and whether it’s feasible. There are so many variations that I am currently unsure of why Burnley would want to proceed.
In the coming weeks, Twine’s future will become even more apparent since Burnley, who won the Championship last season, will be returning straight to the second division following their Premier League relegation.
With a handful of players expected to leave the Lancashire team after a frenzy of transfer activity following their promotion to the top tier, Kompany will have a lot on his plate in terms of squad numbers ahead of a Football League campaign.
That might open the door for Twine to rejoin the team, however it’s unclear who he will face off against to earn a spot in the starting lineup for Turf Moor next season.
Burnley paid an estimated £4 million to sign him from MK Dons two summers ago, so the fee demanded for his services could be another obstacle if Burnley were to let him leave.
The teenager left the team for a reported amount of more than £20 million, but the Robins might still have some cash lying around after the sale of Alex Scott to AFC Bournemouth last summer.
For City and Twine, moving south would make sense, but knowing this, Burnley will be patient to ensure they get paid back for their original investment.
Though the Robins will be hoping the Clarets are in a selling mood this summer, the difference he may bring after a full campaign and a preseason under his belt with his new teammates could make that investment well worth it.
