Loan deals for young Burnley duo
10:43am Friday 8th March 2013 in Sport
YOUNG Burnley duo Jason Gilchrist and Luke Gallagher are set for their first taste of senior football after joining Droylsden on loan until the end of their season.
The 18-year-olds, who are nearing the end of their two-year youth scholarships, will go into the squad for the Bloods' Blue Square North clash with Guiseley tomorrow.
Gilchrist, who scored a hat-trick at Old Trafford in December as Burnley knocked Manchester United out of the FA Youth Cup, is the Clarets' youth team's current top scorer.
Gallagher’s progress in the youth set-up at Burnley has led to him representing the Republic of Ireland Under 19s.
Droylsden, who are struggling in the bottom three of the Conference North, have previously given loan experience to first-year professionals Alex Coleman and Adam Evans this season.
And Shay McCartan, Tom Anderson, Joe Jackson and Steve Hewitt have also benefitted from loan moves into the Blue Square with Premier Division sides, Hyde, Barrow and Alfreton Town.
Anderson – who was included on the substitutes’ bench for Burnley’s Championship win at Millwall in January – has made a combined total of 21 starts for Barrow and Hyde.
But his current loan spell at Hyde has been cut short by a knee ligament injury, prompting his return to Gawthorpe for treatment and rehabilitation.
Hyde have, however, extended the loan stay of McCartan until the end of their season on 20 April as they continue their battle against the drop.
