TOM Heaton is looking forward to returning to Cork next week for a pre-season training camp as the Clarets prepare for a week of tough fitness work.

Sean Dyche's first pre-season as Burnley boss saw the squad head to Cork, with the fitness work punishing, including one task where players carried tyres from one end of the training pitch to the other.

“It will be nice to go back to Cork. I remember last time it was a tough trip and I’m sure the manager has the same sort of thing planned. The rumour is the tractor tyres are still there!" Heaton joked ahead of Monday's departure to the south of Ireland.

The squad returned to pre-season training at the Barnfield Training Centre on Monday and Heaton has been pleased with how the first week has gone.

"It’s been an excellent start this week and everyone looks fit and feels ready," he said. "The standard of training has been excellent and on a personal note I’m delighted to be back 100 per cent, so I am really looking forward to next week.

"It should be a good trip that brings everyone back together. We spend a lot of time together as it is, but when you are together 24/7 the bonds probably get a bit stronger and we usually do a few things like team bonding sessions.

"They become like an anchor point for the season. We are a tight group as it is, but it just tightens up the group more."

Heaton will be looking to build on his England call-up for standby duty ahead of the World Cup in pre-season as he seeks to put pressure on current number one Nick Pope, who is still away with the Three Lions.

The club captain hasn't featured for Burnley since dislocating his shoulder on September 10, but he told Clarets Player: "I got back fit towards the end of last season and to get the call to be on stand-by for England was great.

"I was delighted to be involved to be honest. The two weeks I spent with them before they flew to Russia there was a good vibe around the camp and a lot of practice has gone into what is being achieved out there.

"They’ve talked about ‘owning the moment’ and not rushing to take the penalties, as we’ve seen in the past.

"I think we saw that the other night; there’s a calmness and they take their time and that made a big difference the other night."