BURNLEY mark their return to the Pontins League with a trip to Manchester City tonight (kick-off 7pm).

First team coach Steve Davis is back in charge of the Clarets' second string after the club took a year out of the competition.

Burnley withdrew their reserve side last season due to the small size of the squad and to prevent the risk of burn-out to the club's youth team players, many of whom would have been called upon to make up the numbers.

At the time the decision was taken, assistant manager Dave Kevan said: "This is a welfare issue. What was happening is that a large group of young players, many aged 16, have been playing two or three times a week.

"Often, I feel as though those players kept coming up against the same group of players at youth and reserve level.

"It wasn't as if there was a rise in the level. It was often just a case of two teams fulfilling a fixture and nobody gaining anything from it.

"That is not going to enhance the chances of teenagers making it into our first team."

However, with Burnley increasing their squad size to 22 professionals, the club has re-entered the league and play their first game of the new season against City at the Regional Athletics Arena, which is adjacent to the City of Manchester Stadium.

Admission is £3 adults and £1 concessions, payable on entry at Gate 3, and parking is available via Gate 11 off Ashton New Road.