Cisak and Conlan in Two New Deals for Clarets

Our third-string goalkeeper Alex Cisak (pictured above) has today put pen to paper and signed a new two-year deal with the Clarets. He has not played much for the first-team and made just one appearance for the Clarets last season after deputising for the suspended Tom Heaton in our Capital One Cup game at home to Preston North End. He impressed in that game though keeping a clean sheet and helping his side achieve a 2-0 win over their local League One rivals. In the summer life got more difficult for Cisak following news that goalkeeper Matt Gilks had been signed from Blackpool. Cisak would now have to fight to even be on the bench after dropping down the pecking order. He doesn`t seem to have been too disheartened though following today`s news of a new deal. Cisak started his career at Leicester City and formed a key part of the Premier League Academy winning side in 2006/2007; he made 59 appearances for Oldham during a two-year stay as well as enjoying successful spells at Accrington Stanley and Portsmouth. The 25 year old Australia U20 keeper signed from Oldham in 2013.

Another perhaps surprising new deal relates to His career at Burnley looked to be over after being released in the summer. The 19-year-old defender was originally recruited from Northern Ireland in 2011 and looked set to be a big prospect. He played a key part in the 2012 FA Youth Cup semi-final but then he seemed to be out of favour leading to his eventual release. However he then returned to the club and after recovery from an injury recently, scored a goal for the development squad in their impressive 5-0 win against Aston Villa. The Northern Ireland U21 international has now put pen to paper after agreeing a new one-year deal with the Clarets.

Conlan said:

“I`m very happy to be back at the club, I know a lot of the lads from the last few years and this is where I want to be at.

“I want to progress now with Burnley again and hopefully kick on in the next year.

“I had a few other offers from clubs who wanted me to go on trial but as soon as the opportunity came up here to get another contract it was what I wanted to do.

“Phil Pomeroy and Gavin Lee really helped me over the summer to get back fit.

“They gave me a new programme to help strengthen my knee and now I`m back at full fitness so I`m very grateful”

Talking about the competition for the left back spot in the first-team, Conlan said:

“I just need to keep doing what I`m doing in the development squad and possibly going out on loan to get more experience.

“Obviously I want to impress the gaffer and the aim this year will be to get as many games as possible under my belt.”

He will face a tough battle to play in the first-team with Ben Mee, Stephen Ward and Daniel Lafferty all ahead of him in the pecking order.

Tom Anderson and Steven Hewitt have also agreed new deals. Anderson has signed on for another year at Turf Moor whilst Hewitt has signed a new two-year deal. 12-month contract extensions have also been exercised for Cameron Howieson and Jason Gilchrist. The development squad is certainly looking healthy at the moment!