Brady built on the training ground outing he was given during an in-house match last Thursday afternoon with 82 minutes as an over-age player in the Professional Development League.

The ex-Tigers winger was unable to help mastermind a fourth home win in five attempts for the Clarets as Hull took the points at the Tameside Stadium with goals from Keane Lewis-Potter and first-team men Will Keane and Jon Toral.

But it was another step forward for the Republic of Ireland international, who last played in public during pre-season.

A couple of minor set-backs following Brady’s recovery from knee surgery had delayed the return of Burnley’s former record buy.

But his return to first-team duty for the first time since last December edged nearer thanks to a sprightly performance including two trademark free-kicks in the first half which almost brought Burnley goals.

The Clarets had been the better side before the break but couldn’t turn their superiority – and some smart passages of play – into goals.

Dan Agyei put an early effort just wide with a shot on the turn and Mark Howarth, continuing a welcome return from his own long-term injury, also tested Hull keeper George Long.

Long also saved from lively wingman Tunde Bayode but the pick of his stops was a superb finger-tip save to touch over a 20-yard free-kick from Brady after an earlier sighter had seen Brady’s set-piece fly just over the bar.

And against the run of play Hull grabbed the lead through Lewis-Porter with 20 minutes gone.

The winger had the hit bar moments earlier but made no mistake when sweeping in a low cross from Robbie McKenzie at the far post.

McMahon then made a fine save from Keane but three minutes after the re-start the former Manchester United man got his goal with a fantastic first-time finish from Brandon Fleming’s fine low cross.

The Clarets offered little in response as they struggled to re-create their first-half performance and threaten Long’s goal again.

And it was Hull who struck again through Toral as the former Arsenal youngster and Birmingham City loan man drilled home a low effort a couple of minutes from the end as Hull wrapped up a third win of the season to go above Burnley in the table.

Burnley: McMahon, Clarke, Younger, Perkins (Cook 22), Glennon, Howarth (Mupariwa 58), Goodridge, Bayode, Brady (Blair 82), Agyei, Chakwana. Substitutes: Bruce, Cropper.

Hull City: Long, McKenzie, Fleming, Hickey, Ritson, Thacker, Lewis-Potter, Chadwick, Keane, Toral, Smith (Salam 75). Substitutes: Foulkes, Powell, Greaves, Hawkins.

Referee: Paul Brown

POS	Team	PL	PTS
10	MC	2	3
11	BUR	3	3
12	BRE	3	3

POS	Team	PL	PTS
10	MC	2	3
11	BUR	3	3
12	BRE	3	3

Burnley U23s 0 Hull City U23s 3

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