CLARETS winger Robbie Brady is 'itching to get back' after continuing his return from injury with a run out for the Under-23s.

Brady has been out of action since December when he suffered a serious knee injury in the game at Leicester City.

He returned to training at the beginning of pre-season but then suffered a hamstring injury in the pre-season friendly against Montpellier, which has set back his return to action.

But he played 82 minutes at the Tameside Stadium as Burnley Under-23s were beaten 3-0 by Hull City.

"It was great to get the minutes in. It was a disappointing result in the end but good for myself to get the minutes in," Brady said.

“I’m feel good. I feel almost ready and I’m itching to get back."

Brady had played at the Tameside stadium against Curzon Ashton in pre-season as he looked set for a return to first team action in the early weeks of the campaign, only to suffer the setback.

“It’s been a long number of months now but I’m feeling better as the weeks have gone on since I picked up that knock in pre-season," he said.

“I feel really good so, please God, it’s not much longer."

The former Hull City man twice went close with first-half free-kicks, curling one effort just over the bar and then forcing George Long to tip the other over.

The 26-year-old played an hour in a behind-closed-doors game at the training ground last Thursday and having added a near full game run out to his fitness he is now edging closer to a return.

That could come in a side that has eased their rocky start to the season after the 4-0 win over Bournemouth at the weekend.

“It was a great result on Saturday, and well needed, so hopefully we can build on that in the next few weeks and pick up some more like that," Brady said.

His presence couldn't stop the Clarets going down to a fourth defeat of the Professional Development League season.

Dan Agyei blazed an early shot wide before the visitors took control.

Keane Lewis-Potter put them ahead in the first half before Will Keane doubled the advantage early in the second half.

Jon Toral completed the scoring two minutes from time.