BEN Gibson was happy to show his teammates and the Turf Moor fans what he could do after making his Burnley bow.

The £15million centre half made his first start for the club in the 1-0 win over Istanbul Basaksehir on Thursday night, helping the Clarets to a clean sheet as they edged through to the Europa League play-off round via extra-time.

Gibson signed for Burnley in the final week of the transfer window but knows he has a battle on his hands to dislodge James Tarkowski and Ben Mee and he started alongside Kevin Long in Europe.

"When you come somewhere you’re itching to make your mark," the 25-year-old said.

"I know I’m going to have to be patient, the boys have done fantastic in Ben, Tarky and Kevin last season and in the games this season.

"When I get an opportunity like Thursday I’ve got to make my mark and try and impress and hopefully I did that.

"You want to tick that first game off, it makes you feel part of it. I want to show the lads what I’m about, it’s hard to do that in training without the games.

"I want to show them as well as the manager the things I can do. It was a great opportunity to do that and one I enjoyed."

As well as making his Clarets but the second leg tie with the Turkish side was Gibson's first taste of European action and it was one the former Middlesbrough man relished.

"It was fantastic, quite intense," he said. "They pass the ball really well, they’re calm, it was a test of concentration at times rather than a physical one but was it was one I enjoyed.

"I thought the team did really well and managed the occasion well. It was tough, we had to dig in. That moment of quality from Jack wins us the game.

"It was hard work, but I think we defended well, we saw the pressure out, we moved well up the pitch as a defensive unit, we squeezed the play, we pinched the ball back at times, I think that’s where the goal came from and our hard work was rewarded."

For Gibson the hard work is just beginning.

Sunday's Turf Moor tussle with Watford in the Premier League will almost certainly see Tarkowski and Mee paired together at the heart of defence again.

With Tarkowski winning his first England cap back in March and vice-captain Mee having made 250 appearances for the club, breaking that axis is going to be difficult.

But while Gibson insists he's not here for the easy ride, he is putting the team above those individual battles.

"That’s what football is about. I’m not in it for the easy ride," he added.

"But it’s not about me, it’s not about them, it’s about the team. The important thing is we’ve started the season well with another good result and another clean sheet."