CLARETS chairman Mike Garlick believes the Europa League clash with Aberdeen is a 'game to relish' for the club.

Burnley are returning to Europe this season after a 51-year absence but the draw for the Europa League second qualifying round hasn't allowed fans to get their passport out.

Instead it's a Battle of Britain clash with last season's Scottish Premiership runners-up.

But despite missing out on a trip overseas Garlick believes it is still going to be a big occasion for the club, with Burnley heading north of the border for the first leg on Thursday, July 26, before the return at Turf Moor a week later.

“I gather their stadium has a capacity of about 20,000 so I think we’ll sell all our tickets and it’s a game to relish," Garlick said of the trip to Pittodrie.

"As for the players, it’s not a problem there. A lot of our players have played international football and in Europe before for other clubs, so they are used to the travel and we’ll take it in our stride and see where it takes us."

A tie with Aberdeen wasn't top of most fans' wishlist for Burnley's return to Europe, but having had time to digest it Garlick is getting used to the idea of a journey up to Scotland.

"The more I think about the game, the more excited I am," he said.

"It wasn't something that was perhaps top of our list before the draw as it's not the Amalfi Coast or the Cote d'Azur, but I do like a drop of whisky and I am sure the locals will be very hospitable and good fun, so we are very much looking forward to it.

"The main thing is we are actually in the competition, so whoever we got was kind of secondary for the club and the fans.

"We kind of didn't care where we went; we just wanted to be there."