Striker Joe Westley is “raring to go” in AFC Fylde colours after completing his loan move from Premier League club Burnley until the end of the season.
Westley has enjoyed a prolific campaign in front of goal for the Clarets’ U21s side and is now eager to make his mark for Chris Beech’s men in the remaining months of their Vanarama National League campaign.
The 19-year-old is excited to gain experience in a first-team environment after arriving at Mill Farm, and hopes to help the Coasters to the best of his ability during his stay on the Fylde coast.
Westley said: “I heard about it a couple of weeks ago. Beechy got in contact with the club and from then it’s been a smooth process into it.
“I decided to join because I wanted the experience, and I’ve been given an opportunity to come here and show what I can do. I want to score goals, I want to help the team get three points every weekend and to just experience the men’s game.
“I think momentum is a big thing in football and I think it’s a chance for me to carry on my goalscoring form that I’ve had in the first half of the season, so it’s a good opportunity for me and I can’t wait to get going.
“The way he (Beech) sold it to me, I knew it was the place to come and he spoke how he can develop players and how the team has performed since he came into the role, so I’m really excited to get going and he convinced me well.
“I’d love to be in this team at the top of it and scoring goals, so I’ve seen there’s some great players here, I’m buzzing to get going and I can’t wait.”
Westley is confident that he can make the step up to senior men’s football after excelling for Burnley’s U21s.
He added: “I went to Burnley on a two-year scholarship and signed my professional contract last year, and this window has been an opportunity to go into the men’s, I’m raring to go and I’m excited.
“It’s a challenge, anything new is always a challenge but I’m confident in myself to know I can live up to the challenge, score goals and help the team win.
“I want to help put Fylde in a position where they belong, to lift our position in the table by working hard, scoring goals for the team and getting as many three points as we can, and I’ll do anything I can to help the team do that.”