MICHAEL Duff believes Burnley new boy Nahki Wells is getting his sharpness back after he hit a hat-trick for the Under 23s.

Duff's side beat Colchester United 4-0 to make it two wins from two in Premier League Cup Group D, and it was £5million man Wells who stole the show.

He came through 90 minutes as he continues to recover from surgery to remove a pin from his ankle and struck three times in the first half to send the Clarets top of the group after an opening day 4-3 win at Newcastle.

Duff was impressed with Wells' display, but admits his side are now likely to lose the former Huddersfield man as he closes in on a senior debut for the Clarets.

"You can see he’s getting his sharpness back, he scored three, hit the post twice and the keeper has made some good saves," Duff said. "We might lose him now.

"It’s good for him to get some goals, and it’s good for the lads to see that that is the level they need to get to.

"He stood out today as the best player on the pitch, like he should, but sometimes it’s hard for first team players to come into these games and get themselves motivated.

"All the first team lads since I’ve been here, their attitudes have been brilliant in helping the lads along, so I’m pleased for him."

The success over the U's was much needed for Duff's men, who had slipped to successive defeats in the Professional Development League, including a 6-1 thrashing at the hands of Sheffield United in the last game at the Tameside Stadium.

And the former Burnley defender was delighted with the way his youngsters responded to their recent setbacks.

"It was the polar opposite to the last couple of weeks. They’ve had a tough time in the last couple of games but we asked for a response and we got it," he said.

"We changed the shape which might have helped a few of the players, more familiar roles they are more comfortable with.

"As well as we did with the ball I thought the first 20 minutes was the best part, because we competed, we won headers, we won tackles and we showed quality as well.

"It’s the other side of the game which we’ve probably not done well enough, and if you don’t do that you never get the ball. So it’s pleasing we tied all that together and the result shows you that."

The win puts Burnley in pole position to make it out of the group stage for the first time and into the knockout stages, having stunned Category 1 Academy Newcastle last time out in the competition.

"Off the back of the Newcastle game, that’s one against the head really," Duff said. "This was against a team playing at the same level as us so it’s pleasing.

"It was nice to get the win but the performance after the last couple was the most important thing."