New deals for Jackson, Mitchell and Massanka

Last updated : 22 December 2015 By Tony Scholes
Left to right: Brad Jackson, Conor Mitchell and Ntumba Massanka

The three are goalkeeper Conor Mitchell, wide player Brad Jackson and striker Ntumba Massanka who has been grabbing the headlines with a string of goals. Mitchell graduated from the youth team at the end of the 2013/14, the other two moved up one year later.

It's difficult for supporters now to follow the development of these young players with so few public games to see, but certainly they have all impressed in the cup ties that were open to us and, of course, Mitchell's progress has seen him named in recent under-21 squads for Northern Ireland.

He said, on signing the new deal: "I'm delighted to have signed a new deal as I have been at the club now for four years and I have loved every minute of it. I've worked hard since pre-season, kept my head down and tried to learn as much as possible from everyone around me, so to get rewarded for that is brilliant news for me.

Jackson came to prominence three years ago when we beat Man United in the FA Youth Cup at Old Trafford, the then schoolboy coming on as a substitute to set up Jason Gilchrist's hat trick goal that won the tie for us.

"I am absolutely delighted," he said. "It's great to have some stability behind me know for the next few seasons instead of worrying from year to year, and I can now just concentrate on getting my head down and improving.

"The deal is something that came out of the blue really. I hoped, after being on the bench and being involved a bit this season, that I'd have been given a new deal at the end of my contract, but it's great that I have been given it early."

Massanka, as I said, has been hitting those headlines with his goals and he, like Mitchell and Jackson, is fully deserving of his new contract.

"I'm thrilled to commit to the club for the long term," he said. "It's a great day for myself and my family and it's a great feeling to make them happy after being at the club for so long.

"I feel like I have had a good start to the season and hopefully that has caught people's attention and all I can do is make sure my performances don't drop and continue banging in the goals."

Clarets Mad are delighted to see three young players who have come through the youth team at Burnley move on to sign longer term deals with the club and wish all three of them the very best in their football careers.