O'Neill goes out on loan

Last updated : 18 February 2005 By Tony Scholes

It is almost two years since the 20 year-old wide player made his Clarets debut, coming on as a substitute in the embarrassing 7-4 home defeat against Watford. Two weeks later he got his first start as we beat Gillingham 2-0 and both our goals, scored by Gareth Taylor and Driss Diallo, came from one of his trademark long throws.

There was another start, in the last match of the season at Selhurst Park against Franchise, and although we lost 2-1 our goal from Taylor was again directly from his long through.

He must have been hoping he would really make the breakthrough in the 2003/04 season but it didn’t happen and despite being on the bench on countless occasions he made just four substitute appearances.

Things have been no different this season and he’s been a virtual fixture on the bench but has got on to the pitch only twice, the last time being for the last few minutes at Elland Road as we beat Leeds 2-1.

He’ll now join Accrington Stanley and get some much needed games under his belt in the Nationwide Conference and he is expected to make his debut for them against Halifax next Tuesday.

We would like to thank Burnley FC for the use of the picture of Matt O'Neill