ACADEMY LOAN VIEW: 2023/24 SUMMARY

Main Club Sponsor

TICKETS

SHOP

A look at how our young Clarets fared away from the club

2024-06-14T13:00:00.000Z

ACADEMY LOAN VIEW: 2023/24 SUMMARY

A look at how our young Clarets fared away from the club

2024-06-14T13:00:00.000Z

A look at how our young Clarets fared away from the club

Time out on loan is a key part of the developmental journey of young players, and several of the Club’s Academy cohort were afforded that opportunity in 2023/24.

With minutes, goals, assists and clean sheets to note, please find a useful summary of how a selection of our U21s and U18s fared.

Michael Mellon

The striker spent the first half of the season on loan at League Two side Morecambe, featuring 27 times in all competitions.

He scored 15 goals and played more than 2,500 minutes for the Shrimps, with 13 of those goals coming in the league.

His time at the Lancashire club came to an end on 8 January and the 20-year-old would then join Dundee for the rest of the campaign.

There came a total of 14 appearances including a debut to remember, with Mellon coming off the bench for the last half hour against Livingston to score and provide two assists. Mellon also scored against Celtic and St Mirren.

ACADEMY LOAN VIEW: 2023/24 SUMMARY - Image 1

Joe Westley

After producing promising goalscoring form with Andy Farrell’s U21s in the first half of the season, Westley joined National League side AFC Fylde for his first senior loan in January.

The striker adapted to life on the coast quickly, starting his first four games before scoring in his fifth appearance off the bench against Aldershot.

He totalled three goals and two assists in 13 appearances before missing the last four games of Fylde’s season with a minor injury.

Benn Ward

Ward joined League Two side Swindon Town in his first senior loan at the start of August, featuring five times in all competitions before the end of the month including a first league start.

A hernia injury that required surgery meant he was unable to play for the Robins again, though, and his loan formally ended in January 2024.

ACADEMY LOAN VIEW: 2023/24 SUMMARY - Image 2

Sam Waller

Goalkeeper Waller enjoyed a productive spell with Greater Manchester based Hyde United, featuring 26 times in all competitions between September 2023 and January 2024.

The 20-year-old kept seven Northern Premier League clean sheets as the Tigers finished sixth in the league and, remarkably, the shot stopper saved all four penalties that he faced.

Lewis Forshaw

Two short-term youth loans aided the development of Forshaw, who recently penned his first professional contract, in 2023/24.

The goalkeeper started the campaign at Lancaster City, keeping two clean sheets in three Northern Premier League outings.

He then spent September with Oldham-based Avro FC, recording a shut out on debut away at Chasetown before playing his part in a first round FA Trophy victory over Winterton Rangers.