The Clarets Loan Ranger

We bring you the latest news regarding our players currently out on loan

Young 20 year old striker Alex MacDonald this week joined Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

Inverness manager Terry Butcher has signed him on loan for the remainder of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League season.

'We've had a look at Alex in training and he's shaped up very well,' Butcher told the club's official website.

'We're pleased he's agreed to see out the season with us and he adds to our attacking resources.'

MacDonald has yet to break into the Clarets first team but has impressed this season for the Reserves. He made his debut for Burnley in the last home game of the 2007-8 season against Cardiff City after coming on from the bench. The last time Clarets fans saw him play for the first-team was in the FA Cup defeat against Arsenal at the Emirates in March 2009. He was also out on loan during the first half of last season, this time with Falkirk

There were also reports that striker Wes Fletcher would be following suit and also go out on loan to Inverness. However so far there has been no confirmation of this. Fletcher had just returned from a loan spell from Stockport County after spending three months at Edgeley Park. He also spent a month at Grimsby last season and made an appearance for the Clarets in the Carling Cup clash away to Morecambe back in August last year after coming on late from the bench.

Leon Cort has extended his loan deal at Deepdale. The Clarets centre-back will now play for Preston until the end of the season.

The 31-year-old joined our Lancashire rivals on loan back in November.

It was a bad month for Kevin Long too as we reported earlier. The 20 year old centre-back returned to Burnley after breaking his foot in the final match of his loan spell at Accrington Stanley a couple of weeks ago. Stanley had been keen to extend Long`s loan too for the rest of the season. The injury could take three-four weeks to mend but there is still a chance he could return to the Crown Ground before the January window closes tomorrow (31st January)

Of the other players who were recently out on loan, Kevin McDonald of course returned some weeks ago following a spell with Scunthorpe United. He will now be keen to impress the new gaffer and will be looking for a return to the first team.

Finally, that leaves right back, Richard Eckersley. His loan at Bradford was extended recently by a month and he has now been at Valley Parade since November. His new loan spell will expire soon on the 6th February and it remains to be seen if there is a further loan extension or whether Eddie Howe will take the view he would like him back at Turf Moor so he can assess the player.

Click here to join in the debate on the club forum.