BURNLEY Under-23 boss Steve Stone believes teenage prospect Lewis Richardson has the mentality and ability to succeed at the club.

The 16-year-old was on target in the Clarets Under-23s 2-0 win over Watford on Monday having had permission to miss school to play in the game.

He has broken through into Stone's squad in recent weeks and has been capped by England at Under-16 level.

And Stone has been impressed with what he has seen from the striker.

"Lewis has come and shown in an environment where is 16-years of age and has been one of the best players on our team," said the Under-23 chief. "That is a real positive. It is down to his mentality that he can do that.

"He also has the strength and the ability to do that at this level which is a massive jump for him.

"We have jumped him straight over the top of the Under-18s. We have not given him that bedding in period. I have wanted to accelerate the development which I have talked about and he is one we are trying to do that with.

"He is going to have ups and downs but at the minute he is having lots of up days and he has got the right character to do it."