STEETON have been boosted by the signing of three players on loan from Premier League side Burnley.

Manager Roy Mason has managed to capture the signature of three of the Clarets' Under-18 players as he bids to strengthen his depleted squad.

Harry Allen, Udoka Chima and Jaydon Major all come into Steeton’s squad for tomorrow's home game with AFC Darwen.

Allen, a goalkeeper, has signed a deal to cover the fixtures over the bank holiday weekend with Fletcher Paley being away, while central defender Chima and striker Major have both signed short term deals until the end of September.

Burnley Academy manager Jonathan Pepper said: “Players going out on work experience forms part of our strategy of ensuring all our scholars from second year onwards - unless they are playing U23s regularly - get experience of playing men’s football during their scholarship.

"This strategy worked very well for players such as Bobby Thomas, Michael Fowler, Will Harris, Ethan Kershaw, Kai Calderbank-Park and Dylan Meredith last season.”

he move also allows more regular competitive football for the first-year scholars at Turf Moor.

and a major part of the strategy at youth-team level this season will be to give game-time to the younger age group to help fast-track their development with a view to pushing for a place in the U23 set-up in the future” he added

Mason said: “It’s a huge boost for us to bring three quality players in and with injuries mounting up for us it was vital that we strengthened in certain areas.

"I am extremely grateful to Burnley for working with us and allowing Harry, Jaydon and Udoka to join us and I am sure that they will enjoy the experience of playing at Cougar Park and the challenges that the North West Counties League offers.

"It shows how far we have come as a club that we are now able to work with professional clubs in the area and that they trust us with their young players.

"Hopefully it will be a win-win situation for all of us.

Tomorrow’s game with AFC Darwen kicks off at 3pm at Cougar Park, with admission prices £5 adults, £3 concessions and 16 and under free of charge.