EUROPA League veteran Johann Berg Gudmundsson said the competition comes alive at the group stage.

And if Burnley are to make it that far in 2018/19 the Iceland winger believes they will have earned the right as their tough qualifying campaign continues tonight.

The Clarets have been handed tough ties in every round, needing extra-time to see off Aberdeen in the second qualifying round, while the first leg of their clash with Istanbul Basakshekir ended goalless in Turkey.

A win at Turf Moor tonight would set up a play-off round tie, almost certainly against Greek giants Olympiakos, and would leave Burnley within touching distance of the group stage.

"When you get to the group stage you feel you’re really in the competition. For every player in this group we want to get to the group stage because that’s the real competition," said Gudmundsson, who made 26 Europa League appearances for AZ Alkmaar, twice reaching the quarter-finals.

"We’ve had it tough, it’s going to be a really good achievement if we get to the group stages. Aberdeen were a tough side, this team is a tough side and then Olympiakos are likely to be next, so it’s a difficult pathway for us."

Gudmundsson loved his time in Europe with AZ Alkmaar and he's relishing a second chance with the Clarets.

Burnley secured goalless draws in Istanbul and Southampton last weekend as they showed they can handle fighting on two fronts and the 27-year-old believes the competition doesn't get the respect it deserves on these shores.

"I think the English people don’t really rate the competition, but as players we want to be in it and play as many games as you possibly can, the more games you play the better you’re doing," he said.

And being part of only Burnley's third ever European campaign is a significant achievement for Gudmundsson.

"We want to be part of the fantastic history of this club," he added.

"We’ve been doing that over the last few seasons, with seventh place last year and going into the Europa League it’s something we want to be a part of."

Gudmundsson is at the top of his game at the moment and he experienced his first taste of the World Cup this summer with Iceland, before returning to Europe and the Premier League with his club.

Now the former Charlton winger is eyeing the one major competition he is yet to play in.

"You want to play in these competitions," he said. "I’ve played in the Euros, World Cup and Europa League now, we’ve just got to win the Europa League to get in the Champions League."