The clear pathway to the first team will keep the best young players at Peterborough United

Neale revealed the departure of summer signing Ryan Broom on loan to Burton Albion on transfer deadline day was sanctioned in part to ensure teenager Flynn Clarke’s route to the senior starting line-up is not blocked.

Posh rejected a £700k bid for attacking midfielder Clarke from Championship pacesetters Norwich City last month, although the 18 year-old is out of contract at the end of next season.

Posh have also turned down attractive offers from Premier League clubs in the past for speedy 18 year-old striker Ricky-Jade Jones.

Dr Neale said: “Getting youngsters into the first team is an objective we’re working on. I saw a lot of comments about us loaning Ryan Broom out. The reason for that is to create space for Flynn Clarke. We want to ensure there’s a pathway for him.

“Our pitch to young players - some of whom are actively targetted by larger clubs - is you can go play in an under 23 team for a Premier League team and not progress there for a few years or have a pathway. You shouldn’t doubt us as you can see what’s happening now. It’s really exciting.”

Posh now have 11 senior players who travelled through the club’s Academy following the promotion to the senior squad of Will Blackmore, Hameed Ishola and Dave Bodie this month.

The full list is Kyle Barker, Blackmore, Bodie, Harrison Burrows, Sam Cartwright, Flynn Clarke, Ishola, Archie Jones, Ricky-Jade Jones, Benjamin Mensah and Bradley Rolt.

Ronnie Edwards and Idris Kanu have also played youth football for Posh, but came through the Academies at Barnet and Aldershot respectively.

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