Match guide to Sunderland under-23s’ trip to Burnley. . .
Fixture: Burnley U23 v Sunderland U23
Location: Edgeley Park
Date and kick-off: Monday 27 February, KO 1pm
Competition: Premier League Cup
Last time out: Cardiff City U23 2-1 Burnley U23 (burnleyfootballclub.com)
The Clarets' hopes of advancing to the knock-out stages of the Premier League Cup were ended with defeat in South Wales.
Youth-team striker Tommy Wood gave Burnley a first-half lead at the Cardiff City Stadium.
But a Jamie Veale penalty and a goal from James Waite after the break saw Craig Bellamy's Cardiff side take the points to collect a first win and leave Burnley bottom of Group B.
Spotlight: Burnley U23 coach, Michael Jolley
Michael Jolley joined Burnley as Senior Professional Development Coach in July 2014. Michael left Crewe Alexandra to join the Clarets. At Crewe he had been coaching players within the highly thought of academy and overseeing the club’s achievement of Category 2 status under the EPPP. During this period Michael was mentored by Technical Director Dario Gradi MBE, gaining valuable experience from a man with over 1,000 league games as a professional manager.
In 2012 Jolley was selected by the FA as one of 16 coaches to attend the inaugural FA Elite Coaches award, an 18 month pilot program to develop elite coaches for the English game. His previous coaching experience includes spells with Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace across a decade coaching in the professional game.
Key players: Josh Ginnelly v Ethan Robson
Josh Ginnelly joined Burnley’s Development Squad from Shrewsbury Town in August, 2015, agreeing a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee. While still, a youth teamer at Greenhous Meadow, the exciting young winger was delighted to be handed his Football League debut, aged 17, as a late substitute in the 2-0 home victory over Luton in August, 2014. He had previously been on the bench for the final game of the 2013-14 League One season at Gillingham without being called upon. Ginnelly, who made three appearance for Shrewsbury, was part of the Aston Villa Academy before joining Town as a scholar. The winger joined National League club Altrincham in January 2016, on a one month's youth loan. Ginnelly impressed in his initial loan to Alty, scoring three times in five outings, as the winger's loan was extended until the end of the season. In July 2016, he made his full debut in the Clarets' pre-season friendly game at Bradford City, and spent until January 2017 on loan at Walsall.
