Loan man Stewart open to idea of a full-time switch to Turf Moor (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Loan man Stewart open to idea of a full-time switch to Turf Moor

8:43am Tuesday 4th September 2012 in Sport By Chris Flanagan, Sports reporter

CAMERON Stewart admits he could be open to a permanent move to Burnley in January if he impresses during a loan spell at Turf Moor.

Stewart made his Clarets debut in Saturday’s 3-1 home loss to Brighton after arriving on loan from Hull City just 24 hours beforehand, and could be available after falling down the pecking order under new Tigers boss Steve Bruce.

Jamaican winger Dane Richards is already scheduled to join Burnley in January after signing a pre-contract agreement to make the move from Vancouver Whitecaps.

But Stewart also hopes he can do enough to put himself in contention for a longer stay with the Clarets – having attracted interest from big spending Leicester at the start of 2012, only months after his return from a cruciate knee ligament injury.

Asked if his loan move to Burnley could eventually become permanent, the 21-year-old said: “I spoke to the gaffer here, and if I really enjoy it here and he enjoys having me then it could be.

“I spoke to Steve Bruce and he said come here for six months and then we’ll review it in January.

“I’ve still got almost two years with Hull so we’ll wait and see what January brings.

“Leicester made a bid for me in January and over the close season my agent spoke to a few clubs but I decided to stay at Hull.

“Obviously with Steve Bruce coming in he’s changed a few things and he’s changed the system.

“We’ve been playing a back five – or 3-5-2, however you want to put it – so I could see myself not playing a lot of games.

“I think we both thought together that it would be a good idea for me to go out on loan and play a few more games.

“I’m still only 21. I had a long injury and then came back, so for me to be spending a lot of time on the bench wasn’t really ideal.

“I wanted to come out and try to get some more games.”

Stewart is closer to home again at Burnley after growing up in Manchester, where he started his career with Manchester United.

He joined Hull in 2010, first on loan and later on a permanent basis, and featured in a memorable match against the Clarets last season – as the Tigers led 2-0 before losing 3-2 at the KC Stadium.

“It was a crazy game,” he said. “I came off at 2-0, went to the toilet and came back and it was 2-2.

“I think that was the first time the manager would have seen me.

“He’s told me to come here and enjoy myself, with free-flowing football.

“I was in training with Hull on Friday morning and then I had to shoot down the M62 to try to get to Turf Moor in time to sign to play on Saturday.

“To be honest I didn’t really expect to play, but I did so I was very grateful for my start.

“For me personally I didn’t get as much of the ball as I’d like to, so it was a disappointing result.

“But with the international break coming up hopefully we can get three points against Peterborough after.”

As expected, Martin Paterson has now withdrawn from Northern Ireland’s match against Russia on Friday as he protects a hamstring injury.

His fitness will be assessed again later in the week before it is decided whether he will link up with the national team for their clash with Luxembourg in seven days’ time.

* The Clarets have made a number of changes to their youth structure as they adapt to the nationwide Elite Player Performance Plan.

Jeff Taylor becomes academy operations manager, while John Francis is now the youth development phase co-ordinator for under 12s to under 16s.

John Mullin becomes the foundation phase co-ordinator for under fives to under 11s, with Graham Lancashire the new pre-academy co-ordinator and Craig Mawson head of academy goalkeeping.

Alex Ouzounoglou has joined the club as the head of academy sports science, while Gavin Lee becomes the head of academy sports medicine.

Kieran Scott arrives from Southampton as the new head of academy recruitment, while Gill Avery becomes youth academy secretary.

Terry Pashley and Andy Farrell remain in their roles as coaches of the youth team.

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