The former Clarets striker, who has spent the past 20 years working as a coach at Oldham Athletic, takes over the role recently vacated by Danny Cadamarteri.

And Philliskirk admitted he was delighted and privileged to be back at Turf Moor, where he made 45 appearances in the mid-1990s.

The 53-year-old, pictured being welcomed by Head of Academy Jon Pepper, said: “As a former player here, I have an affinity to the club and from bringing youth teams here over the years I’ve seen the club and its facilities develop.

“The training ground is amazing and a far cry from the days when I was a player.

“It’s been an amazing transformation for the whole club and I just feel absolutely privileged to be here.

“I came in during the week to meet the staff and officially started today. I’ve had my first meeting with the players and told them how much I am looking forward to working with them and helping them develop.

“Hopefully I can use the experience and knowledge gained over 30-plus years in football to try and impart that onto the players and improve them.”

Sunderland-born Philliskirk enjoyed a varied playing career with a dozen clubs, including an injury-hit spell at Burnley under Jimmy Mullen between 1994-1995, where the highlight was a hat-trick against Barnet.

After hanging up his boots in 1998 and qualifying as a referee, he accepted a youth coaching role at Oldham, and later worked as assistant manager and twice as manager in a caretaker capacity.

Philliskirk plans to take a back seat in the opening week of his new role at Burnley, while interim manager John Townson and Pepper take the team for Saturday’s league game at Hull and Tuesday’s FA Youth Cup game at Turf Moor against Oxford United.

He explained: “With the game tomorrow and the FA Youth Cup game coming up, I feel it’s right to shadow John at Hull, and on Tuesday.

“The timing is quite good in respect that I can shadow and then start leading sessions towards the back end of next week ahead of the Christmas break, then I can start in earnest in the new year.

“I’ve spoken to Jon at length and I’ve had a copy of the Academy Performance Plan and I am here to implement that and continue the good work already being done.

“It’s not about me coming in and trying to change that, but we have a young staff and I hope my experience of youth development can complement that.

“I will bring my personality to the team, but all along the line it’s following the ethos of what is already in place.”

POS	Team	PL	PTS
10	DER	26	32
11	BUR	26	30
12	LEE	26	29

POS	Team	PL	PTS
10	DER	26	32
11	BUR	26	30
12	LEE	26	29

Philliskirk Appointed U18 Head Coach

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