Toronto take Eckersley

Burnley have allowed defender Richard Eckersley to join Canadian outfit Toronto FC on loan.

Clarets full-back joins MLS outfit on loan

Burnley have allowed defender Richard Eckersley to join Canadian outfit Toronto FC on loan. The 22-year-old has been recalled from a stint at League Two side Bury in order to push through an agreement which will run until January 2012. Eckersley will link up with Paul Mariner for a second time at Toronto, having previously worked under him at Plymouth. He took in a loan spell at Home Park towards the end of the 2009/10 campaign. This season has seen Eckersley again struggle to make an impact at Burnley, leading to further moves elsewhere. He joined Bradford on a short-term deal in November 2010, before moving on to Bury in March of this year. Eckersley has made just three appearances for Burnley since joining from Manchester United on a four-year deal in the summer of 2009.