BURNLEY boss Sean Dyche hopes the club’s future is bright, if the youth team can build on an impressive FA Youth Cup performance against Manchester United.

The young Clarets were knocked out by Premier League opposition in the third round of the national competition.

But having already fast-tracked right back Cameron Dummigan to the first team squad, with a place on the bench for the first year scholar in this month’s home game with Watford, Dyche is optimistic the club can continue to produce homegrown talent.

“There are some good alignments with the first team, you can see the energy, the organisation and the belief, and we want that running through the club,” said Dyche.

“There were good signs of that, some good moments of quality and I think there were a number of good performances.

“There are no guarantees with youth players but there are some good signs.

“There’s a lot of work to be done but it’s certainly going well at the minute.

“Let’s hope there’s a lot of potential there.”

The Clarets have provided a pathway from the youth team to the first team for a number of players over the last 10 seasons, with Chris McCann and Kyle Lafferty both progressing after arriving at the club aged 16, Burnley-born Jay Rodriguez became a homegrown hero, while there have since been opportunities for youngsters midfielders Steven Hewitt and Cameron Howieson – although they have yet to secure a regular place in the squad.

Dummigan has been the most recent to come to the senior squad’s attention, and second year scholar Jamie Frost has been a regular with the club’s development squad.

Dyche has yet to spend a penny on transfer fees in over 12 months in charge, and as such has turned to the youth set-up to supplement his senior squad.

The Clarets boss says nights like Monday, in which the young Clarets outplayed their Premier League counterparts for long periods at Turf Moor, and were unlucky to bow out of the cup, can only be beneficial to their development.

“There was certainly a nice drive and momentum to try to affect the game, and some good quality as well and created a lot of chances.

“You’ve got to take those chances, that was probably the difference on the night.

“There were two moments of real quality from them (United) – a great strike for the first goal and a good run for the second.

“I think the lads applied themselves really well. There were a number of good performances.”

He added: “It’s great development for the players to play at Turf against a big club like Manchester United and their players and there wasn’t massive amounts of difference.

“Collectively it’s just the tiny details. The youth team’s important.

“I saw arguably the best youth game I’d ever seen last year when we beat Manchester United, at Old Trafford after I’d only just got to the club.

“It’s still probably the best youth game I’ve ever seen for excitement, for quality, for energy, giving everything to win - it was like a Rocky film.

“Monday wasn’t quite like that but there were still some really good signs of what we’re trying to build and good signs from the youth for what they’re trying to achieve as well.”