SEAN Dyche’s Burnley enjoyed their first day of pre-season with footballs at Gawthorpe yesterday.

After a gruelling day of fitness testing on the hottest day of the year on Wednesday, the players were out on the pitch, less than six weeks after the final whistle was blown on the 2014/15 season.

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And the Clarets boss is delighted with the way his players have reported back ahead of a 2015/16 campaign in which promotion back to the Premier League will be the ultimate goal.

“Usually it’s seven or eight weeks, this year it’s only five, but that’s the same for everyone. Our players have had enough time to get refreshed, as have I, as have the staff, and get back to it straightaway.

“It comes around quickly.

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“The stuff that we put in place last year off the pitch, training schedules and the (training) pitches which we’ve had a lot of work done on, it’s all in place this year so we’re looking to use them and enjoy them.

“We trained on the grass yesterday morning, very low key other than some physical testing, and yet they look really good already.

“That allows us to accelerate their training, moving into the season.”

Asked if he had to tinker with Wednesday’s planned fitness tests because of the high temperatues, Dyche said: “It actually fell really well because the plan was always to do body testing, where there is only minimal running. Thursday was more the physical testing, with running, so it was perfect with the change in the weather overnight.

“The first game of the season is historically hot (weather) but obviously to get true measures (of fitness) when we measure now and at the end of pre-season, we want to find a similar atmosphere with the weather, the setting, wind etc. You try to keep the conditions consistent.

“It’s unusual for it to be as hot as it was on Wednesday. Thursday was a much better day for a base level of testing.”

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The long-haired George Boyd, dubbed ‘marathan man’ last season because of his high fitness levels and non-stop running, looked like he could be on Wimbledon’s Centre Court with his headband and bun.

Newlywed captain Jason Shackell, linked with a return to Derby County, was at the heart of the action in the possesion drills.

Injured striker Ashley Barnes was made to feel involved in the session, but only as a spectator so soon after surgery for the cruciate knee ligament damage he suffered in the final game of the season at Aston Villa.

Dean Marney and Kevin Long, who are well on the road to recovery from similar injuries, brought their boots. It was an encouraging sight, but there is no ball-work yet for the duo.

After the departures of Danny Ings and Kieran Trippier there were other notable absentees. But they are only temporary as manager Dyche gave extra time to the players who have been away on international duty over the summer to recuperate, although Tom Heaton did report to Turf Moor this week to sign a new three-year contract following his first England call-up.

There was one new face to welcome, with right back Matt Lowton - a £1million-plus signing from Aston Villa - getting his first taste of the upgraded Gawthorpe training pitches.

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The 26-year-old, who signed a three-year deal last month, said it was typical that there had been an upturn in the weather just in time for the start of pre-season.

“It always seems to happen, over the summer the weather’s not the best and then we come in for pre-season and it’s a heatwave and it makes it doubly hard,” he said.

“Pre-season is what it is. I’ve done a good number of them now and everyone knows what’s coming to make sure we’re fit and ready for the first game.”

Lowton added that securing the move before the start of pre-season had been important to him so that he could settle in better.

“I knew where I was at the start of the season. That’s one of the things I said to my agent at the end of the season. I wanted to be sorted so that I knew where I was going straight away and I could start from day one with the lads - mix and make friends and things like that - and make sure I’m not behind on my fitness.

“I signed in the middle of June so I was looking forward to getting here and meeting the lads and starting out,” he said.

“I’ve been welcomed very well by the lads and I’ve fit straight in. I can’t wait to get into the nitty gritty.

“It’s been very easy to come in and the lads seem fine.”

Former Sheffield United defender Lowton is not looking forward to going away with the squad on next week’s training camp in France, which ends with their first pre-season friendly against Swiss Third Division side Étoile Carouge.

“It’s always a good bonding exercise,” he said.

“We’ll be there for six days with the management and players so it’s a good opportunity to get to know everyone even better.”