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Youth internationals add to squad strength as U23s keep building

2020-11-26T10:56:29.142Z

Clarets Hope Overseas Aid Pays Off

Youth internationals add to squad strength as U23s keep building

2020-11-26T10:56:29.142Z

Youth internationals add to squad strength as U23s keep building

Steve Stone has underlined the Clarets’ commitment to look far and wide to unearth potential Premier League players after bringing two European youth internationals into Turf Moor so far this season.

France midfielder Anthony Gomez Mancini last month signed on loan from Angers with a view to a possible permanent move and he has been joined by Danish striker Arman Taranis.

Both have played at under-19 level for their country and shared a pitch with the Clarets for the first time on Monday when Taranis – who recently arrived after leaving Danish top-flight club Sonderjyske – made his debut for Burnley’s Under-23s as a substitute in a 2-1 win over Fulham.

And Stone is hopeful such moves could pay pff in the long run as the Clarets look to enhance their playing strength.

The Under-23s’ boss said: “You are always looking for the quality to improve all the time. It’s not easy to get England internationals in the building because they cost a fortune.

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“But some of the overseas players, we can potentially get them with sell-ons and things, to make sure we up the levels.

“They bring a different a type of game. They bring a bit more technical game to our squad at the minute, and if we can get them used to the English physicality then we might have something on our hands and that’s what we’re hoping for.

“They’re still a long way off what we want but we always have to improve what we’re trying to do here.

“This is Premier League we’re looking for and trying to produce Premier League players, so these types of players have to come in the building.”

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Gomez Mancini (above) made his third appearance for the club in the win over Fulham which lifted the Clarets off the foot of the second division of PL2, while Taranis came off the bench to make his bow after an impressive trial spell earned the 19-year-old a deal at Burnley.

The Clarets have also signed former Chelsea defender Richard Nartey, 22, after a handful of games as a trialist to strengthen their squad ahead of a trip to Norwich City on Friday.

And despite losing striker Rob Harker to injury, Stone believes his squad is looking better equipped to progress.

He added: “We’ve had Arman around the building for a couple of weeks and he’s fitted in really well.

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“He gives us something different up the top. We’ve had Rob and Joel (Mumbongo) who are big and strong and Arman (above) can definitely move between the lines, link the play well, get in with some clever runs and he’s a good finisher.

“He brings us something different which I’ve been looking for.

“We were looking for somebody at the bottom end to link the play in midfield, which we have brought in with Anthony, and we’ve now got someone else at the top end as well.

“We’ve also added Richard, who has a bit more experience and has done well for us, so there’s good competition for places as well, which is something we should always be doing.

“We should always be stretching the squad and making it tougher with competitions for places, and that’s what we’ve done.”

The U23s will be looking for a first away win of the season when they face Norwich at the Canaries’ training ground (KO 1pm).

Norwich are currently sitting third in the table, with five wins from their opening eight games, and have also advanced to their knock-out stages of the EFL Trophy.

Live up-dates from the game will be available via Burnley’s official Academy Twitter channel @ClaretsAcademy