The Clarets’ Under-23s kick off their Professional Development League programme with a home game against Cardiff City.

The Bluebirds visit Curzon Ashton on Monday, 13 August (kick-off 7pm).

Burnley are again using the Tameside Stadium for the majority of their home games, although many this season will kick-off at 2pm.

Details for fixtures to be played at Turf Moor are still to be confirmed.

The league – run by the Premier League ­– is split into north and south groups, with the Clarets playing home and away against northern opposition and only once against sides from the south group.

The Clarets will play at Curzon Ashton again this season

And the games against sides from the south will again be played at the start and end of the season.

The Clarets finished second from bottom of the northern group last season in their first year in the league following the award of Category Two status to the club’s Academy set-up.

But after a strong finish under boss Michael Duff – and the additional of several new players to the Development Squad this summer – they will be hoping for better this time around.

Bolton Wanderers won last year’s competition, beating Nottingham Forest in the play-off final.

UNDER 23 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE FIXTURES 2018/19

(Venues and kick-off times may be subject to change)