Summer signing Gibson was back in action for the first time since a hernia operation last month and cruised through 90 minutes in the middle of the Burnley back four as he built up his match fitness.

And Brady also played the full game in front of the watching Republic of Ireland management duo of Martin O’Neill and Roy Keane.

Like the Clarets, they will be glad to see Brady heading back to first-team contention after more than 10 months away from the Premier League.

Sunday’s visit of Chelsea could see the wingman back in the first-team fold as he underlined his well-being as an over-age player alongside Gibson and goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard.

Sheffield United could have gone joint top of the Professional Development League’s northern section with a win as they looked to extend an unbeaten seven-match run.

But with the Blades short on experience, they were ruthlessly cut down by a Burnley side playing their best football of the campaign.

Chakwana was at the sharp end as his four goals – with two in each half – doubled his tally for the season.

The young forward celebrated his 20^th birthday three days early with his first hat-trick at this level after opening the scoring with just five minutes gone.

Josh Benson, starting his first game of the season, created the chance with a ball down the inside right channel which Chakwana collected to bury a shot across Marcus Dewhurst and into the corner of the net.

Chakwana then almost laid on a goal for Brady, but his right-wing cross was just too high for the Irishman to steer his header goalward.

Dan Agyei was next to go close with a curling shot that flew just wide before the striker had a hand in the second goal after 34 minutes.

Agyei’s header from a Brady corner was heading goalwards, but in a melee on the line it needed a touch from Chakwana for the ball to reach the back of the net as he quickly doubled his tally.

And three minutes into the second half it was 3-0 as Chakwana completed his treble, again locating the bottom corner of the net with a fine strike on the turn after being teed up by substitute Mark Howarth.

Lindegaard was rarely pressed into action but made one smart stop to deny David Parkhouse to preserve his clean sheet.

And three more goals in the final 25 minutes completed the rout.

Agyei got himself on the scoresheet as he nodded home a perfectly delivered Brady free-kick before Brady set up Dwight McNeil, who again impressed, for a shot that hit the inside of the post.

Chakwana tucked away the rebound from an offside position but the striker didn’t have to wait long for his fourth goal as the Clarets went 5-0 up with the goal of the game.

Olly Younger’s fine sweeping pass picked out Ali Koiki, whose powerful run and low cross ended with Chakwana clinically side-footing home.

And in the last minute Howarth rounded things off by nodding home the sixth as the Clarets – for whom Mace Goodridge was arguably the pick of a very good bunch - made it back-to-back home wins in highly impressive style.

Burnley: Lindegaard, Cropper, Younger, Gibson, Koiki, Brady, Goodridge (Bayode 80), Benson (Howarth HT), McNeil, Agyei, Chakwana (Harker 73). Substitutes: McMahon, Glennon.

Sheffield United: Dewhurst, Sheppeard, Boyes, Doherty, Cantrill (Parkhouse 18), York, Broadbent, Greaves (Neal 28), Oure, Hallam, Mallon. Substitutes: Williams, Amissah, Foulstone.

Referee: Andrew Kitchen

POS	Team	PL	PTS
15	FOR	5	5
16	BUR	5	4
17	BRE	5	4

POS	Team	PL	PTS
15	FOR	5	5
16	BUR	5	4
17	BRE	5	4

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