WHILE Burnley have had to turn to their Under 23s to boost squad numbers in the absence of much transfer activity, a number of young Clarets have gone on loan to gain first team experience.

Adam Phillips is one of two players to join League Two Morecambe on a season-long deal, and he already has four goals in all competitions so far, including three in the league.

After scoring one and making another in an important win at Southend, the 22-year-old midfielder starred on Saturday by stepping up to score the winner from the spot at home Port Vale, earning praise from Shrimps boss Derek Adams.

“Adam is very composed,” said the Morecambe boss after the 1-0 win at the Mazuma Stadium.

“It was a well-taken penalty and he’s done ever so well for us.

“Last week, he scored one and set up one. Today he’s got the penalty and we’re delighted to get that goal and get another clean sheet.”

The shut-out was Morecambe's first this season, and fellow Clarets U23 Ryan Cooney played his part in that.

The 20-year-old defender started the Football League Trophy and Carabao Cup games against Rochdale and Oldham respectively but had to settle for a place on the bench for the League Two opener away to Cheltenham.

He was an unused substitute on that occasion but came on in the 69th minute of the first home game of the campaign, which resulted in a 5-0 defeat to Cambridge United.

Morecambe have responded with back-to-back wins, with Cooney starting both of them.

He will be particularly pleased with a clean sheet at home to Vale in his last outing.

Meanwhile, Jordan Cropper has had a delayed start to the season in the National League, after joining Chesterfield on loan.

The Spireites were due to begin the 2020/21 campaign away to Wealdstone FC at the weekend, but the game was postponed.

So they were instead set to kick the new season off in last night's scheduled home game with Hartlepool United.