BEN Gibson is closing in on a first team return for Burnley after coming through 90 minutes for the club's Under-23s on Saturday.

The centre back, who has endured a frustrating start to life at Turf Moor since joining from Middlesbrough in the summer due to a hernia injury, came through 90 minutes in the 1-1 draw with Birmingham City.

Gibson was joined in the side by Anders Lindegaard in Steve Stone's second game in charge of the Clarets youngsters.

And he will now hope to push for a recall to the senior squad with his return a welcome boost given the absence of the injured James Tarkowski.

“Ben was excellent, they had a big guy up-front, and Ben dealt with him really well," said Stone of the 25-year-old.

“He really showed his quality throughout the game, and it was great for the younger lads to be alongside him and he just went about his job very professionally.

“Its always important for the younger lads on the pitch to see how the first team players go about their job when they’re on the pitch.

“Anders and Ben were both excellent, from the dressing room to the pitch.”

Olatunde Bayode secured a draw for the Under-23s in the Midlands as his late strike cancelled out Dan Scarr's first half opener.

And Stone was pleased with his side's second half display.

He said: “I think in the first half we really didn’t get going, they struggled to come to terms to what I was asking them to do and then we conceded a goal from a set-play.

“So, the whole first half we never got going really and really looked like we could have conceded more.

“We then changed the shape at half-time and went to a 4-3-3, looking to get our midfield players more on the ball.

“So, in the second-half it changed the game totally round, we really should have gone on to win the game four or five one.

“But it was great to see the desire and all the things you’re looking for, when you forget the technical aspects its all the horrible things that you’ve got to do as a footballer.”

Meanwhile, 15-year-old starlet Lewis Richardson continued his fine goalscoring form for the Under-18s but his sixth goal in two games couldn't stop them slipping to a 2-1 reverse to Leeds United.

Richardson, who netted five against Crewe last time out, cancelled out Niklas Haugland's opened but an own goal early in the second half gave the Yorkshireman the points.