TEENAGE striker Dan Agyei insists he is ready to take any first-team opportunity that comes his way after a starring performance for Burnley Under-23s against Sunderland.

The 19-year-old scored twice in a 5-3 Premier League Cup win over the Black Cats on Monday, including a stunning solo strike that was the latest indicator of his blossoming reputation.

Agyei scored a similarly spectacular individual effort during a loan spell with League One Coventry City earlier in the campaign which yielded five goals.

Since returning to Turf Moor in January he has been training with the first-team and has been on the bench for the FA Cup defeat to Lincoln City and the draw with Hull.

After his goals for Michael Jolley's side he is likely to be among the substitutes at Swansea City on Saturday with Ashley Barnes suspended, and Agyei believes his game is improving from his time with the first-team at Gawthorpe.

"I think I’m doing quite well, just always trying to knock on the door, whether it be in training or when I get an opportunity when I play in matches to try and score goals and work hard and just show what I am about," he said.

"I think training with the first-team is really helping me to improve because every day I will be up against Michael Keane, Ben Mee or James Tarkowski, which is really helping me to develop and mature.

"I will keep knocking on the door, and any opportunity I’ve just got to take."

While Agyei has enjoyed pitting his wits against Keane, Mee and Tarkowski in training, he has also been able to work alongside senior strikers Andre Gray, Sam Vokes and Ashley Barnes, which has also been beneficial.

"With Andre I’ve learned from his running in behind and his movement, which is really good," he said.

"From Barnesy and Vokesy it’s been the hold-up play. They can put the ball up into Barnesy and he can just hold onto it and get a foul and I’m trying to learn from that.

"They have all been nice to me and helped me out with advice."

Agyei played 19 times for Coventry in his spell with the Sky Blues and he believes it was a valuable experience at a club who are struggling at the wrong end of the table this season.

“I learned a lot," he said. "There were a few ups and downs. Coventry were struggling a bit so I have seen both sides of football, which I think has really helped.

"It was really good for development and great experience.

"I think it helped me to mature as a player and a person. When the fans aren’t too happy you’ve got to play well and stick through it.

"You might get a bit of stick and you’ve got to play through it."

Of his double against Sunderland, Agyei added: “It was good. The ball came to me and I turned and it kind of opened up. I went round a couple of defenders and was on through on goal so I had a shot and it went in.

“I’m quite pleased. I was disappointed not to get a hat-trick, but pleased we won the game.

“In this cup we’ve had our ups and downs but it was good to finish with a nice solid win.

“Because we’re not in the league it’s been good to get some competitive games."