SEVEN apprentices have signed up as Burnley Football Club's youth team squad return to pre-season training this week.

Jay Rodriguez, Ali Akbar, Connor Smith, Dale Underwood, Tom Blackler, Paul Casey and Jack Overson - the son of Head Of Youth Development Vince Overson - all signed two-year contracts at Turf Moor.

Six of the new arrivals have come through the club's Centre Of Excellence and Akbar, Overson, Rodriguez and Smith were all schooled in Burnley.

Underwood joins the Clarets from Ribblesdale High School in Clitheroe, while Casey hails from Oldham and Blackler arrives from Crewe Alexandra's famed Academy.

Overson said: "We're delighted to welcome the lads on as apprentices. They have all done exceptionally well and deserve the two-year contracts because they have worked hard to achieve their goal over the past few years and are a credit to their schools.

"It is nice to see local lads coming through the system and we hope they can do well for the club."

Overson (back row, left), Terry Pashley (back row, second right) and child protection officer Jeff Taylor (back row, right) welcome the new intake to Turf Moor.