Burnley have appointed Steve Stone as the club’s new Under-23s boss.

Stone replaces Michael Duff who left the Clarets month last month for League Two side Cheltenham Town.

Former England international Stone has spent five years working at Newcastle United, having been at Nottingham Forest, Aston Villa, Portsmouth and Leeds United during his playing career.

He watched the Clarets Under-23s extend their unbeaten run to five games with a 1-1 draw at Liverpool in the Premier League Cup on Sunday before officially starting his role in charge of the team from today.

Stone isn’t a stranger to the club though, having worked within the recruitment department, along with some coaching duties, during the summer.

“I think this role suits me perfectly for what I’ve done in the past with my coaching,” said Stone, who worked at all levels from Under-16s to first team on Tyneside.

“It’s one that excites me as well, from the way Burnley are going with the first team, the way the training ground is set up and the way the young players are starting to develop and come through.

“They have definitely progressed over the past couple of years to where they are now.

“I think the job will take time. But Jon Pepper and Faz (Andy Farrell), and Duffo before that, have done a great job the way the team is playing at the minute.

“The key is, over the years, to fill the gap from where these lads are now, where most of them are young men at 19 years of age, to get them up to 21 and to get them near or around the first team. That’s my key role.”

The 47-year-old is a former team-mate of Sean Dyche and his staff of Ian Woan and Tony Loughlan, and having also previously worked at the club, Stone added: “That’s massive.

“Walking into a new football club and having to learn everything from scratch can be difficult sometimes.

“I’ve obviously got a heads-up on what’s going on and now I’m looking forward to using the licence I have to go on and do the job I’ve been brought in to do.

“Football’s in your blood. It never leaves you. I had two years out of the game when I retired 10 or 12 years ago, and you feel yourself itching to get back in.

“It’s what you do, and this is another great opportunity for me to get back in.

“I’m excited, not for me to do the job, but I’m excited to see what I can bring through.

“I’ve had my playing career and now it’s my time to get other players to have theirs.”