Burnley FC loan stars find the net

Fast forward 12 months, and he netted his first league goal since as he brought an initial month’s loan at Scunthorpe United to an end by scoring on his first start for the the Iron against Cardiff on Saturday - a tidy side-foot inside the far corner.

And fellow loanee Wes Fletcher was also on target as he settled the League 2 derby at Gigg Lane, cooly taking his first goal for Stockport at Bury, showing great feet to create space, before slotting home.

McDonald, Fletcher and Kevin Long, who has spent the last month with Accrington Stanley, completed their respective loan deals on Saturday, and it has been agreed Fletcher will stay at Edgeley Park for another month likewise Kevin McDonald will stay on at Scunthorpe, with no decision made on Long at the time of going to press.

Boss Brian Laws will hold talks this week regarding any potential extensions: “We’ve had a good weekend, and hopefully the players will have benefited from their loan periods.

“We’ll talk to the clubs, see how they’ve got on and if they want to extend the loans.”

Meanwhile, another fringe man moved out on loan on Friday, as defender Richard Eckersley joined League 2 Bradford City in a deal that could run until the start of January.

The former Manchester United right back was on the bench on Saturday as Peter Taylor’s Bantams lost 1-0 at Wycombe Wanderers.

The 21-year-old, signed for a tribunal-set fee of £500,000, has struggled for first-team football since moving from Old Trafford in July last year.

He made three cup appearances last season, being sent off at Hartlepool, and also figured in the Carling Cup win at Morecambe in August.

But he has yet to make a league appearance for the Clarets, and finished last season on loan at Plymouth Argyle.

Laws said: “It has been difficult to get Richard games so this is a good opportunity for him.

“He’s going to a club that gets crowds of 10,000 so he will be playing in a fantastic atmosphere at a good stadium.

“He’s also going to play under an excellent manager in Peter Taylor so it’s a good move all round.”

Burnley will have an option of re-calling Eckersley after the first 28 days.