BURNLEY babes Matty O'Neill and Joel Pilkington have given Stan Ternent a timely boost by signing professional terms with the club.

The Accrington-born duo - both products of the Centre of Excellence - have agreed initial 12-month terms with the Clarets after breaking through into the first team squad last season.

Winger O'Neill, 19 next week, made a huge impression with a handful of appearances last season.

The blond-haired youngster, who made his League debut against Watford in April, wooed the Turf Moor faithful with his long throws and fearless raids down the left wing as the season fizzled out in disappointment.

Midfielder Pilkington, 18, has yet to feature in first team colours, although he made it as far as the Burnley bench on four occasions in April.

However, the fact manager Ternent was prepared to throw both youngsters into the fray at all is clear evidence he has high hopes for them next term.

Richard Chaplow, a third teenager who broke through the ranks last season, still has one year remaining as a scholar at the Club.

Home-grown talent has been pretty thin on the ground in recent years - a worry for a club with such a proud tradition of bringing youth through the ranks.

The current trio, who Ternent has nurtured, are virtually the first youngsters to make the grade at Burnley since Paul Weller, who signed professional terms almost exactly a decade ago, Brad Maylett, who yesterday joined Swansea on a free transfer and Chris Brass, now York City manager.