DWIGHT McNeil’s introduction to first team life at Burnley was a nerve-wracking one.

The night before the Clarets defeat to Swansea the 18-year-old attacker, travelling with the squad for the first time, had to sing a song for his teammates at the hotel.

McNeil picked a pop classic belying his tender years, although his rendition of Backstreet Boys’ I Want It That Way might not have done much for his street cred.

“It was pretty nerve-wracking, but you feel more part of the group once you’ve done it,” the former Manchester United youngster said.

With injuries continuing to hit the first team Sean Dyche called McNeil and defender Ollie Younger, also 18, into his squad for the trip to Swans.

McNeil has trained with the first team often this season while also impressing for Michael Duff’s Under-23s, and while neither he or Younger made the matchday 18 at the Liberty Stadium he said the glimpse of life in the Premier League had whetted his appetite for more.

“It’s given me a confidence boost to kick on and hopefully progress further,” said McNeil, who has been with the Clarets since 2014.

“Me and Ollie were in the same room, we were talking about the difference between 23s and first team.

“I think it was more relaxed (before), you get your own time and then on Saturday it’s game time and you see the difference and the focus on it.”

Dyche had told McNeil and Younger that they would be part of the squad on the Thursday before the group flew to South Wales on Friday afternoon.

“He said it was a good starting point, for getting a feel of what it’s like to be around the lads and hopefully in the future doing it more,” McNeil said of the message from Dyche.

Despite the defeat to Swansea it was an experience McNeil believes he can learn plenty from as he seeks to edge closer to a first team debut through continuing to impress academy staff at the Barnfield Training Centre.

“It was a great experience and a good learning point in my progress to becoming the player I want to become,” he said.

“It was good to be around the lads and see how they prepare for games and what it’s like.

“It’s good for me to learn from it and the differences from 23s and first team, how they prepare and what it means to them.

“It’s good to learn from them, especially the people in your position, they’re the ones you take note of it and seeing what I can do to improve.

“It was good to learn how they prepare for games, what happens at half-time and full-time and things like that.”

McNeil was back in under-23s action last week, playing in central midfield as the Clarets were beaten 5-0 by Birmingham City.

He could feature again tonight as Duff’s side travel to the Macron Stadium to face Bolton Wanderers and although he has been used in several positions this season he sees it as part of his development.

“I’ve played left midfield, as a striker and centre mid, but I think it’s good for me as in the future I could play anywhere,” McNeil said.