WESTLEY HAPPY WITH PROGRESS IN 2023/24

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Striker reflects on first senior loan and U21s goals

2024-06-11T09:00:00.000Z

WESTLEY HAPPY WITH PROGRESS IN 2023/24

Striker reflects on first senior loan and U21s goals

2024-06-11T09:00:00.000Z

Striker reflects on first senior loan and U21s goals

The season just gone was an important one for Academy striker Joe Westley, who plied his trade with the U21s either side of a loan spell at AFC Fylde.

Westley has been a Claret since August 2021 when he penned a two-year scholarship, following that up with his first professional deal in January 2023.

The 19-year-old stepped up to the U21s group at the same time and that period of acclimatisation stood him in good stead going into 2023/24.

He scored five goals in Andy Farrell’s team’s opening four games, including a perfect hat-trick against Queens Park Rangers at Turf Moor.

“Last season was about getting used to the step up,” he said.

“I think I started this one really well, scoring a lot of goals in the first half of the season that put me in a good position going into January.

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“Before that QPR game we hadn’t had much opportunity to play at Turf Moor, so playing there and imagining what it would be like packed out was a great experience.

“All of my goals that day were put on a plate for me to be honest, but I had to be there to score them.

“My favourite was the header as it was a really good team goal, playing out from the back before Rico (Lewis Richardson) put in a good cross.”

Westley then joined National League side AFC Fylde towards the end of January, a move that bought his first taste of senior football.

His first goal came in a 5-0 victory over Aldershot the day before Valentines Day and the youngster managed three goals and two assists in 13 league appearances.

Westley continued: “I’d played with the U21s for basically a season by then, so it was about going and playing for points that mattered against centre halves who had been around the leagues.

“They were great with me at Fylde. Obviously it’s a different type of environment in a first team changing room and you have to get used to that pretty quickly, but it was all part of the experience.

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“The football’s different in that league, too, with a lot more directness and defenders trying to hurt me.

“That’s helped me learn how to use my body better and time my jumps to win headers, all while maintaining my finishing and scoring goals which is what I love to do.”

When Fylde’s season finished, Westley returned to Burnley and featured in the final of the Central League Cup, scoring the equalising goal at Pride Park.

“It was a really good night”, he finished.

“The goal before halftime gave us a chance and in the second half you saw a change in our performance.

“We were a lot more aggressive and intense with what we were doing and they couldn’t really live with us - I thought we thoroughly deserved the win”.

The photo of Joe in action at AFC Fylde is courtesy of James Giblin Photography.