Former Everton winger Andros Townsend says he now understands Burnley not offering him a contracr.

Still a free agent, Townsend trained with Burnley in preseason.

He told BBC Sport: "It was probably one of the toughest conversations I've had in my career.

"If I was bad and knew I wasn't going to get a contract I could prepare myself. But to be looking at houses, looking at schools, talking about squad numbers and then to be told the contract is no longer on offer, it rocked my world.

"I argued my point, put my case forward. That I offer something different, that I'm comfortable being a squad player and good around the squad even when not playing.

"But now after watching Burnley's first five games, I understand. With Luca Koleosho and Zeki Amdouni, these young players they have brought in. Burnley are a club that like sellable assets, so begrudgingly I understand why he [Kompany] made that decision not to block their pathway by signing a 32-year-old."