BURNLEY could use Manchester United's fringe players to push for promotion next season.

A trio of youngsters from Old Trafford have been linked with a loan move to Turf Moor.

Midfielders Michael Stewart and Danny Pugh, who both featured for United in their Worthington Cup clash against Burnley, and goalkeeper Luke Steele could sign loan deals with the Clarets before the start of next season.

Burnley chairman Barry Kilby did not want to comment on speculation but said signing Premiership fringe players on loan was one of the options open to the club.

"I think we will be looking at all sorts of avenues and will probably be linked with a lot of players before the summer is out," he said.

"A lot of transfer activity will depend on who's available because we will be looking at more experienced players who are out of contract as well.

"So we are going to be looking at players right across the board and playing our cards as well as we can within our budgets."

Stewart made his Premiership debut two years ago against Middlesbrough after returning from a loan spell at Belgium club Royal Antwerp.

The 22-year-old Scot made four first team appearances last season, including United's Worthington Cup win at Turf Moor, and has won three full Scottish caps.

Nineteen-year-old Pugh is highly rated at Old Trafford and was recently awarded a professional contract, while 18-year-old Steele was bought from Peterborough United for £500,000 12 months ago.

He added: "This is the summer when I think it will hit home that the market's changed.

"The levels that were reached when the television money was there were very high and now all clubs are scrambling to get back in line."

The Burnley chairman added that it was even possible for players who were released at the end of last season to return to the club on a short-term basis.

Goalkeeper Marlon Beresford's second spell with the Clarets ended at the end of the season. And, although he thought it would be unlikely that he would return, he admitted he would never completely rule out a third spell at Turf Moor.

And Kilby said: "It can happen.

"It happened with Lennie Johnrose after he was released, but it's up to the manager."