A NEW-LOOK Burnley Under-23s got back to winning ways against Sheffield United.

The Clarets moved back to the top of the Professional Development League with the 2-0 victory at the Tameside Stadium and joined Nottingham Forest, who ended their unbeaten start in the league last week, at the summit. 

Rob Harker and Bobby Thomas got the goals for Andy Farrell’s side with Ollie Younger sent off late in the piece for a professional foul.

Stand-in coach Farrell however was pleased with what he saw as the Under-23s continue to adapt to life without a host of players who have left Turf Moor temporarily to get first-team experience out on loan.

“We’ve had the changes. The boys have gone out and we’ve had to move it around a little bit,” he told the club.

“Some that haven’t played as much have come in and in terms of the group – the 10 outfield players we had out – we’re still looking in fairly good shape. I thought we played well."

Younger was one of those to return to the starting line up in a defence that included Jimmy Dunne who is likely to head out on loan again this month after returning from Fleetwood.

“Ollie played at right back and I know he got sent off. But I think he was a bit unlucky there and in terms of his technical ability he has progressed quite a bit from a few years ago, so he was able to shape the balls down the side and handled the ball really well," Farrell said.

“That’s a progression for him that he has the opportunity now to play in the middle and at right-back. That might help him going forward.

“Mace (Goodridge) and Josh (Benson) were good in the middle of the park and the hold-up play at the top end was good.

“Will (Harris) hasn’t been with us for a while but he did well and has some good attributes and hopefully we can get him involved at some stage.

“Nejai (Tucker) is getting better with every appearance and right through the group I thought they performed really well, pressed really well and showed good energy.”