Reds snap up Burnley starlet to fill void in midfield, while Worsfold stakes claim

ALFRETON Town concluded their January transfer dealings with the loan signing of Burnley midfielder Steven Hewitt last night.

The 19-year-old playmaker has joined the Reds for the rest of their Blue Square Bet Premier campaign.

Hewitt came through the youth system at Turf Moor, having spent time with Stockport County and Blackburn Rovers as a schoolboy.

He made his Burnley first-team debut as a substitute towards the end of last season and started the Capital One Cup tie against Plymouth Argyle in August, scoring from the spot in a penalty shoot-out victory.

"He played against us in a pre-season friendly and did particularly well," said Alfreton chairman Wayne Bradley.

"We've been keeping an eye on him since then and have followed his progress.

"He's well thought of at Burnley, so joins us on a traditional loan, rather than anything more permanent.

"He fills a bit of a void for us and I think he will play a part in, hopefully, helping us retain our Conference Premier status for another year."

Hewitt's arrival will fill the void set to be left by Matty Harriott when his loan from Sheffield United expires on February 12.

"Matty has done very well with us but this is a bit of a like-for-like replacement," added Bradley.

"He (Hewitt) is a very busy, industrious midfielder, who likes to have the ball.

"He should bring a bit of balance to the squad."

Hewitt, who can be recalled at 24 hours' notice after the first 28 days of his loan, joins fellow new signing Scott Boden in Nicky Law's squad for tomorrow's trip to table-topping Grimsby Town.

Striker Boden has joined on loan from Chesterfield for the rest of the season, with a view to a possible permanent move in the summer.

He adds to Law's attacking options, while Ashley Worsfold staked his claim for a starting spot with a hat-trick in Tuesday night's Derbyshire Senior Cup victory over holders Buxton.

Worsfold has had to be patient since joining Alfreton from Sheffield FC in August.

The Buxton game was his first 90 minutes for the club – and he made the most of it, as the Reds came from two goals down to win 3-2.

"Credit to Ash," said Law. "All he has been doing is waiting for his chance and he went in there and got three goals.

"His all-round performance has given him a good chance for Saturday.

"We have always known what he can do but it has been all about finding the right time to give him his opportunity, as we have had some massive games over the past few months.

"You don't want to put him in and kill him. When he has come in before Tuesday night, he has done well.

"And, when you are a goalscorer, you are a goalscorer and that will always come through.

"We've got five strikers in the squad now and that gives us plenty of competition at the sharp end of the team.

"If anyone doesn't do their job, they simply won't keep their shirt."

Law hopes to have a fully-fit squad available tomorrow, although Louie Soares cannot face parent club Grimsby as part of his loan deal.

Fellow loanee Ross Killock is available again, having been left out of the Buxton game as he had played for Leeds United's under-21 side the previous day.

Grimsby's former Reds striker Liam Hearn is still out with a ruptured Achilles but is now around a month away from a return to action.