Michael King admits his rapid progress through the Burnley ranks has come as a pleasant surprise after he scored his first goal as a profesional for the Clarets last night.

King signed his first professional contract during the summer after two years as a scholar at Turf Moor.

The 18-year-old has already been given a first-team outing by boss Brian Laws and having started both reserve games this season scored in the Clarets' 3-1 totesport.com league win over Accrington Stanley.

"It was great to get my first goal of the season. I just saw it bouncing and thought 'try and get on the scoresheet' and luckily it went in," said King, who drilled the ball home following a great run by Brian Easton to tot up a six-goal tally for the reserves he launched two seasons ago.

The left-sided midfielder, who was spotted playing junior club football a couple of years ago, has impressed Laws and his coaching staff since stepping up from the youth set-up.

And as well as training with the senior squad at Gawthorpe was given a first-team debut as a substitute in Burnley's Carling Cup win at Morecambe last month.

Michael King has built on last season's young player award

"It has gone as I hoped it would, but I must admit it has come around a lot quicker than I thought it would," he revealed.

"It has felt brilliant to be involved. I'm trying to play as well as I can and to push myself forward to get in and around the first team and if I keep on playing well in training I might be able to get my chance.

"I got a little taster at Morecambe. It was a great experience for me and it has given me an incentive to go out and get many more.

"My mum, dad and granddad came up to watch so they were very proud and just glad to see me get on.

"I have been very pleased but I'm just trying to keep my head down, keep working hard and try to progress as much as I can and take on board the help from the staff and players around the club, which is brilliant."

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