Clarets keen on a Noble from Sunderland

01 December 2011 10:50
Burnley have been reported, along with Blackpool, Coventry City, Derby County and Middlesbrough to be keen on Sunderland's young striker Ryan Noble.

The last time Burnley signed a Sunderland born player by the name of Noble it was Peter who went on to give the club great service over a period of almost seven years but today the link is with one of Sunderland's reserve squad, 20-year-old striker Ryan.

He's only just returned to action following a back injury that sidelined him during last season but has come back and hit seven goals, including two hat tricks, in three reserve team games. The second of those hat tricks came on Tuesday in the space of just six minutes against Scunthorpe United.

He's also made one recent appearance for the first team, coming on as a late substitute for Ahmed Elmohamady in the home draw against Fulham a week last Saturday.

That was his fourth substitute appearance in total for the first team and he can add one further substitute appearance in two loan spells. He went to Watford at the end of the 2009/10 season without making an appearance and came on once for Derby during a loan at the beginning of last season.

Noble has twice played against Burnley. He came on as a substitute in both of our Barclays Premier Reserve League games against them in 2009/10. Both games ended in 1-0 wins for the away teams and it was Noble who got the goal in Sunderland's win at Accrington.

There were moves to take him on loan during the loan deadline week, but Sunderland thought that was too early on his return but seem ready to let him go out on loan in January.

Meanwhile, our efforts to sign Cliftonville's prolific young striker Rory Donnelly have been hit with Brentford having increased their offer for him.

Last week we were reported to have made a bid of around £100,000 and looked set to sign him, but Bees' boss Uwe Rosler was at the Oval to see him play in Cliftonville's 2-1 Co. Antrim Shield Final win against Glentoran, as was Swansea manager Brendan Rodgers.

Source: FOOTYMAD