The Clarets were cruising and were 2-0 up just 27 minutes into the training ground work-out at Doncaster, thanks to goals from strikers Lewis Richardson and Rob Harker.

Despite Rovers pulling one back, Josh Benson grabbed Burnley's third just moments the break, before the hosts had their second in a five-goal first-half .

And although the Yorkshire side snatched a last minute equaliser from a free-kick, Stone was pleased overall with the team's effort and explained it was a different experience for his youngsters and another valuable lesson.

“It was a really good workout; I got some good work into them that we have really been looking for," said Stone, who gave a number of players who hadn't featured in last Friday's 1-1 draw at Millwall in the opening Professional Development League fixture some game-time.

"We are just trying to give them as many games as possible against different types of opposition.

"They had a few trialists in today and a few older lads, who caused us some problems at times, and they played some really good football.

"It’s been a different type of game for us, we have played a lot of men’s teams in pre-season and even the Millwall game last week, it’s been against teams that bash it long and cause us problems.

"Today, they tried to play and caused us different problems by doing that.

"We have struggled at both aspects of the opposition, whether it be long balls or trying to play it through us, so we have to get better at both."

Richardson close up.jpg

Along with the likes of Jimmy Dunne, Ali Koiki, Josh Benson and Christian N'Guessan, the Clarets fielded two youth team scholars, in first-year Richardson and second-year Nejai Tucker.

And Stone believes his sides attacking presence caused Rovers plenty of problems throughout the match, especially the first 45 minutes and admits that the future is bright for his side.

He said:"In terms of Richardson and Rob up front, we looked a real threat today going forward.

"If you look at the first 45 minutes, we played some really good stuff, I was really pleased with how they played.

"NeJai Tucker as well, just 17 years-old and played well, with young Rico (Richardson) up front, the future is bright as they say."

POS	Team	PL	PTS
2	SH U	29	58
3	BUR	28	56
4	SUN	29	55

POS	Team	PL	PTS
2	SH U	29	58
3	BUR	28	56
4	SUN	29	55

Stone: The Future Is Bright

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