WHEN Joel Pilkington first came to Turf Moor it was as a full back but last week the youth team player enjoyed a run out in the reserves alongside John Mullin in central midfield.

Clarets youth team boss Terry Pashley explained: "I just felt he had all the qualities you need in a midfield player and we are giving him a chance to play there.

"He is very fit, strong and good in the air. He is tenacious and can win the ball very well. He just needs to develop a little bit more composure when he is on the ball."

The teenager from Accrington filled the same role when the youth team lost 2-0 at carlisle United on Saturday and Pashley said: "I talked the change through with him because it is his career and I wanted to make sure he was happy with the switch."

Pilkington won a penalty against Wrexham for the reserves in a match that featured some of his youth team colleagues.

Big defender Earl Davis - "six foot three and 14 stone of muscle," according to Pashley - scored with a far post header and Matthew O'Neill gave a lively display as a second half replacement for the experienced Tony Ellis.

"Matty had most of our chances when we played at Carlisle on Saturday," said Pashley. "He was unlucky because he had three shots cleared off the line and hit the woodwork.

"We may have lost 2-0 but we created a lot of chances and played very well. The pity is we did not take the chances we created."

The youth team is back in action again at the weekend when Bury visit the club's Gawthorpe training ground, kick-off 11am.