Youths take good start to Preston

Last updated : 03 September 2011 By Tony Scholes
Midfielder Alex Mullin

We lead the table currently, ahead of Bury on goal difference, with both of us having a maximum nine points from three games. Preston are third, just two points behind, but have played one game more.

Burnley will have to go into this morning's game without leading goalscorer Shay McCartan. He's scored five of our ten goals to date this season in the league but he's away on international duty with Northern Ireland's under-19 squad.

McCartan has been in excellent early season form and was also on the mark in the friendly against Manchester City's elite development squad on Tuesday, giving us an early lead as his pace left the home defence for dead.

With Shay on duty with Northern Ireland is first year scholar Luke Conlan, but he wouldn't have been able to play for Burnley today in any case as the club still await international clearance. There is a similar situation with New Zealander Cameron Howieson and it can only be hoped they don't have to wait anything like as long as Aryn Williams did last season.

The absences mean there is a first start at youth team level for under-16 player Lewis Nuttall and the Burnley team today is: Josh Cook, Jack Errington, Aryn Williams, Alex Coleman, Tom Anderson, Archie Love, Adam Evans, Steven Hewitt, Lewis Nuttall, Jason Gilchrist, Alex Mullin.

The game will be played at Preston's Springfields training ground and kicks off at the earlier time of 10:30 a.m.