Manager Howe expected Treacy to return to Burnley’s pre-season training ahead of the 2012–13 season, having given him a second chance in the first team. However, he missed the first two games due to a groin injury. Treacy made his first appearance since returning from a loan spell at Sheffield Wednesday, coming on as a substitute for Joseph Mills in the 73rd minute, in a 2–0 loss against Huddersfield Town on 25 August 2012. However, his poor performance against Plymouth Argyle in the second round of the League Cup led Manager Howe to send him to the club’s Development Squad. After spending months at Burnley’s Development Squad, he was recalled to the first team under the new management of Sean Dyche It wasn’t until on 15 December 2012 when Treacy made his first team return, coming on as a substitute for Danny Ings in a 1–1 draw against Watford. He then started his first game in a year for Burnley in the 1–0 defeat against Leicester City on 29 December 2012. This was followed up by scoring the opening goal in a 2–0 win against Sheffield Wednesday on the first day of 2013. After the match, Treacy praised Dyche for giving him a second chance at Burnley. His first team return saw him in and out of the starting line–up for the club. At the end of the 2012–13 season, he went on to make seventeen appearance and scoring once in all competitions.