DANNY Cadamarteri hailed his 'superb players' after Burnley Under-18s continued their stunning start to the season with a 3-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday.

It was a sweet success for Cadamarteri, who coached the Owls last season, and he was full of praise for his young starlets as the Clarets moved level with Nottingham Forest at the top of the Professional Development League.

Burnley fell behind to Wednesday at the Barnfield Training Centre but Jordan Cropper bagged a 17-minute hat-trick to turn the game on its head and make it three wins in a row.

The win extended second place Burnley's lead over Wednesday in third and with leaders Forest falling to their first defeat of the season, a surprise 4-1 reverse at the hands of Huddersfield Town, the Clarets are now only goal difference away from top spot.

"I’m delighted for the players. They were superb,” said Cadamarteri.

“We probably didn’t start the game how we have done in recent weeks.

“We conceded a goal and were a little bit apprehensive but the mentality of the lads to get straight back into the game was excellent."

The Clarets have hit 13 goals in four games so far in September and in the last couple of weeks they have achieved more comfortable wins as they begin to manage games better.

“I think we had a 15-20-minute spell where we scored the goals. Jordan was superb and we played to our strengths," Cadamarteri said.

“We had our nervy spell in the first 10 minutes, when it usually comes just before half time or after 60 minutes.

“But we settled into the game and dictated and dominated and the second half was excellent.

“We have spoken about how we manage games and they did it really, really well.”

It's been a flying start to life in a new league for the Under-18s, who are playing in the Professional Development League for the first time after the Clarets Academy was awarded Category 2 status in the summer under the Elite Player Performance Plan.

Burnley are at home again this weekend as they host Barnsley at the Barnfield Training Centre on Saturday (11am).