A RECORD 4.7billion football fans around the world will potentially watch the Clarets make their long-awaited return to the Premier League tonight.

The pitches from Turf Moor will be beamed into 643 million homes across 212 territories by 80 different broadcasters.

The eyes of the world will truly be on Turf Moor as they take on former champions Chelsea.

Thanks to television, Clarets fans living as far away as Australia, Alaska, Africa and even near the Amazon will be able to see their favourite team play top-flight football for the first time since being relegated in 2010.

Sky Sports will broadcast the home game live from the ground on Harry Potts Way.

In preparation of the world’s media descending on the ground, an extra 50 press seats making a total of a 130 have been installed so Burnley can be shown off to it’s full potential.

Viewing figures are expected to smash the biggest total ever recorded for a Clarets match.

That was in 2009 when Burnley beat Manchester United 1-0 at home.

Football Magazine FourFourTwo placed the match at 98 in the highest viewed match in the history of the Premier League.

In total, the League clocked up 185,000 hours of TV coverage in 2010/11, an increase of 65 per cent on the previous campaign.

Steve Rumbelow, chief executive of Burnley Council, said that success on the pitch would translate to success for the town.

He said: “If Burnley are able to stay up and establish themselves as Premier League regulars then it will only be a good thing for the town.

“We now have a Premier League football club for a premier town.

“The viewing figures for Sky Sports must be up from what they were four years ago so it would be fair to say that more people than ever before will see a Burnley Football Club match today.

“That’s great for the club and the town as it helps to put Burnley on the footballing map.

“We are already on the map as a destination but this exposure will only increase our profile.

“We have been working very hard to make Burnley even more prosperous and this will help towards that.”

With viewing figures expected to soar Turf Moor has undergone a major facelift.

In total 150 projects of varying sizes were undertaken including the demolition and relocation of the player’s tunnel, which was moved to the corner of the David Fishwick and James Hargreaves stands, new seating and changing room improvements.

The players are set to be greeted with a warn reception despite the chilly 12c temperature expected during the match.