U21 PREVIEW: CREWE ALEXANDRA V BURNLEY

Main Club Sponsor

TICKETS

SHOP

Clarets go up against Railwaymen in search of fourth consecutive league win

2022-09-25T20:11:46.579Z

U21 PREVIEW: CREWE ALEXANDRA V BURNLEY

Clarets go up against Railwaymen in search of fourth consecutive league win

2022-09-25T20:11:46.579Z

Clarets go up against Railwaymen in search of fourth consecutive league win

Burnley’s U21 side return to Professional Development League action on Monday afternoon (September 26), travelling to take on Crewe Alexandra.

The Clarets head to Alex’s Reaseheath Training Ground in search of a fourth consecutive league win after successes against the trio of Cardiff City, Ipswich Town and most recently Sheffield Wednesday.

The three victories have lifted Burnley to 2nd in the Northern Section of the league’s tables, six points behind leaders Sheffield United.

Monday’s game though comes only three days after a 3-1 defeat at home to Arsenal in Burnley’s opening group stage game of this season’s Premier League Cup.

Michael Mellon netted his second in two games since returning from injury, but it proved only a consolation as the Gunners left Leyland with three points.

U21 PL CUP PREVIEW: ARSENAL V BURNLEY - Image 2

Dara Costelloe and Dane McCullough both missed that game, representing the Republic of Ireland & Northern Ireland’s U21 sides respectively, and with the September international fixtures still ongoing, the pair will also be unavailable against the Alex.

Finn Armstrong will also be unavailable after he completed a month-long youth loan deal to Northern Premier League Premier Division outfit FC United of Manchester. The young full back made his debut for FC in their win at Warrington Town on Saturday afternoon.

Attacker Kade Ratchford is also out on loan in the same division with Bamber Bridge, and scored his first goal in a 5-1 win against Belper Town on Saturday.

Armstrong & Ratchford join Lewis Richardson (Grimsby Town), Bobby Thomas (Bristol Rovers) Joe McGlynn (Oldham Athletic) and Jacson Coppack (Ramsbottom United) on the list of Clarets academy players currently out on loan.

Opponents Crewe prop up the Northern Section in the PDL with two points, though have played only four league games compared to the Clarets six to date.

Two draws started their campaign off at home to Swansea City and Queens Park Rangers, but losses to Coventry City & Peterborough United have since followed.

Michael Jackson is the Railwaymen’s manager, namesake of Burnley’s own first-team coach, having moved from his position as Head of Coaching over the course of the summer.

Monday's game will be a first meeting between the two Clubs at U23/U21 level since March 2020, when Ne-Jai Tucker was on target at Gresty Road in a 3-0 Clarets win. Joel Mumbongo was the other Burnley scorer that day, netting a brace.

With a 13:00 kick-off scheduled this time around, the PDL fixture will be covered in full over on Twitter via @ClaretsAcademy. A report will also be published on burnleyfc.com post-match.