Joe Bursik looking to make his dad proud after swapping Stoke for Club Brugge

This month, for the first time without his father, Joe Bursik made the biggest decision of his life.

It was the next step in a career which had always benefitted from the love, support and advice of dad Alex.

Two weeks ago the goalkeeper swapped Stoke for Club Brugge to become Scott Parkers first signing in Belgium.

It comes after he suddenly lost Alex to pancreatic cancer in September and the magnitude of the move cannot be lost.

My journey was me and dad, rather than just me, Bursik told the PA news agency.

It was always me and him and any big decisions, like loans or permanent moves, we would always discuss and we always had the same outlook on everything.

Its awful not to have him here but I know hes by my side and every decision I make I know hell back.

I know whatever I would have done he would be proud. He would travel up and down the country to watch all of my games and abroad with England he would always be there. I will carry on with what I was doing and making him proud.

Dad used to come up a lot, he lived in Milton Keynes so it was only a couple of hours. I saw dad more than mum because mum was working, dad was retired, and mum had to look after my sister in London so it was hard for her to visit.