Burton Albion duo Matt Palmer and Liam Slade have signed one-year professional contracts with the club.
Palmer, 18, made both his Football League and FA Cup debut for the Brewers during the 2012/13 campaign having progressed from the Academy.
The cultured midfielder impressed sufficiently in pre-season last year to be given a squad number for Burton’s promotion-challenging campaign and also landed the club’s Young Player of the Year Award for a second successive season.
Slade, 18, is yet to make his first team debut for the Brewers; however the commanding defender’s impressive progression through the scholarship scheme has now been rewarded with a squad number and contract.
Palmer said: ’I’m delighted to have signed a professional contract at the club and I’m looking forward to pushing on this season and hopefully getting some more appearances under my belt.
‘To be part of the team last season and getting the experience of some time on the pitch was brilliant and I’ll be aiming for more of the same this campaign.
‘The environment here is very good. Mike Whitlow and the Academy coaches work closely with the young players and make it a place where you look forward to coming to training and playing football.’
Slade added: ‘I’ve been here two years now as a scholar and worked hard to achieve this contract and I now know I need to keep working in order to progress.
 ‘My aim is to now knuckle down, do the very best I can and prove to the Manager that I deserve to be in the first team squad every week.’
Manager Gary Rowett continued: ‘Matty and Liam have worked very hard and I sincerely believe they both have a great chance of making their way in to our matchday squad.
‘They’ve both got great attitudes and have applied themselves well in pre-season training and I am really pleased to see them sign professional contracts with the club.’