FORMER Stoke City defender Richard Keogh has become Burnley's sixth summer signing after securing a two-year deal.

And Clarets boss Steve Cotterill could soon be in seventh heaven after revealing he hopes to offer a trial to a player who caught the eye during last weekend's scouting mission to America.

Keogh, 18, has agreed terms with the Clarets to join the growing band of former City players and staff at Turf Moor.

The Republic of Ireland youth international, who has nine U19 caps, was invited to train with Burnley after quitting the Potteries this summer.

Six-foot central defender Keogh only ever made the substitutes bench at the Britannia Stadium after being snapped up from Ipswich in his early teens.

A spell on loan with Icelandic side Vikingur last summer failed to kick start his career and, although City offered him a new deal, Keogh instead becomes the fifth former City player at Turf Moor, joining Ade Akinbiyi, Gifton Noel-Williams, Wayne Thomas and James O'Connor.

Cotterill said: "We are going to sign Richard on a two-year contract with an option of a further year. He is a young boy who is still only 18 and you never know where he will be in two years.

"He was a kid when I was at Stoke, but it's amazing what has happened to him since. He has really grown up and he is a great kid who won't let anyone down."

Keogh could now be handed a Burnley debut when Cotterill makes an emotional return to former club Cheltenham tomorrow in Burnley's first pre-season friendly (KO 3pm), a game arranged as part of the deal that brought Michael Duff to Turf Moor last summer.

And Cotterill has not given up hope of adding another new face to his squad before heading to an Austrian training camp in eight days time.

The jet-setting Burnley boss took in two CONCACAF Cup ties in Los Angeles last weekend - Jamaica versus South Africa and Mexico's clash with Guatemala.

And he revealed: "The trip went well and I am looking at trying to

bring someone over in the next couple of weeks.

"Hopefully I can get them in within the next two weeks when the competition finishes and maybe even be able to take them away on trial."

Meanwhile, West Ham United are the latest club to have an offer rejected for Stoke City defender Clive Clarke.

Cotterill confirmed that Burnley had tabled an unsuccessful £125,000 for Clarke earlier this week, following Sunderland's failed £100,000 bid for the unsettled City skipper, who is demanding a move.

And the newly-promoted Hammers have also now failed with an increased bid of £200,000.