U23 PREVIEW: Fulham U23s v Burnley U23s

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Clarets aim to have young guns firing to keep play-offs in sight

2021-03-19T10:44:01.631Z

U23 PREVIEW: Fulham U23s v Burnley U23s

Clarets aim to have young guns firing to keep play-offs in sight

2021-03-19T10:44:01.631Z

Boss Steve Stone delighted with application as Clarets keep play-off hopes alive

Steve Stone is looking for his players to pass their latest test at the London School of Economics and keep the Under-23s in the play-off hunt.

The Clarets face Fulham at their London academy base this afternoon (Friday KO 1pm) aiming for a fourth win in five games.

That run has lifted them into fifth place and the final play-off spot in the second tier of Premier League 2.

And as well as staying in the promotion race, Stone is also pushing some of the younger members of the side – including teenagers Lewis Richardson, Max Thompson, Ne-Jai Tucker and Matty Rain – to keep making their mark.

“I think they’ve progressed really well this year and got themselves in a good position – all of them,” said the Under-23s' boss.

U23 PREVIEW: Fulham U23s v Burnley U23s - Image 1

“Now it’s for them to show a bit of assurance that they belong at this level and can go on and be the best players in the group.

“That’s their next step – to be the best players on a regular basis.

“We don’t expect them to become Premier League players overnight, but it has to be a progression and the progression has to keep going.

“You can’t stand still at this level or someone overtakes you. They’re going in a nice upward curve at the minute, but the challenge is always there to them to get to the next level and that’s what we always ask.”

While development remains the key, the Clarets also have something tangible to aim for in their final five games of a first season playing at this level.

There is little margin for error in a congested league table, with Fulham currently in 10th place after a run of one win in five games but only five points behind Burnley with a game in hand.

Under-23s' boss challenges players to stay the course in play-off race

But Stone wants to carry on pushing to the end to give his players an added incentive as one side looks to follow likely champions Leeds United into the top-flight via the play-offs.

Stone – whose side beat the Cottagers 2-1 at home last November – added: “It’s our first year at Cat One. We struggled for the first four or five games while we came to terms with the bodies that we had with Covid.

“The team was probably too young at the time. We’ve added some strength in depth in Richard Nartey and Anthony Glennon has played a lot this season.

“The balance is right at the minute and the play-offs are something there for the players to focus on.

“It’s difficult at this level to get real competition for them and real tough games.

“To give them something to focus on now is that play-off place and we’re looking forward to trying to cement ourselves in those play-offs in the next couple of weeks, or we fall away from it.

“The challenge is there and if they can get themselves in the play-offs, you never know what might happen for next season.

“But of course, we focus on what we do today and the rest will take care of itself.”

Live up-dates from today's game will be available on Twitter via @ClaretsAcademy