Former City U23s captain Phillips earns chance with Premier League club

Adam Phillips was on the bench for Norwich City at Brentford in the League Cup last season Picture: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images (Image: ©Focus Images Limitedwww.focus-images.co.uk+447814 482222)

The former Liverpool and England Under-17 midfielder has earned a one-year deal at Burnley, with the option for a further 12 months, following a pre-season trial.

Phillips joined Norwich in 2017 after his Liverpool exit but his contract was finished early in February, by mutual consent, having made eight appearances for City's U23s last season, after an initial loan stint with Hamilton in Scotland didn't work out.

"I'm delighted to get a deal," Phillips told the Clarets' website. "There's been a lot of hard work. I went to Poland, which was a really good tour, and then I've come back here and really enjoyed it and had a few games as well.

"I can't wait for the season to start now and hopefully we'll have a good start and I'll get some games under my belt.

"It's quite a young squad and hopefully I can help out a few of the younger lads moving forward. It's a good group and I'm looking forward to what's to come."

The 21-year-old was a prominent figure during his first season for City's U23s, wearing the captain's armband and scoring three goals in 19 games, showing genuine first-team promise.

He even made it on to the bench for the first team on two occasions during 2017-18 but a loan stint in League Two with Cambridge nosedived after a change in manager, leaving him out in the cold after four initial league appearances.

Now he's got his career back on track and has a chance to try and impress Burnley boss Sean Dyche with the Clarets' U23s.

He added: "Hopefully I can get a chance to push on and hopefully get a chance to train with the first team and show the first-team manager what I can do.

"That's what I'm here for, to try and get as high up as I can, and keep enjoying my football."