Burnley keeper issues warning to new signing

4:50pm Wednesday 16th July 2008

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CLARETS keeper Brian Jensen is ready to welcome rival Diego Penny into the Turf Moor fold – but has warned the Peruvian that he has a fight on his hands to be Burnley’s number one.

The 33-year-old Dane is the only keeper on the club’s mini-tour of the USA and was due to play in last night’s game against the Minnesota Thunder at the National Sports Center Stadium.

With Penny still yet to link up with his new team-mates and transfer-listed Gabor Kiraly having not travelled with the team, “The Beast” has been forced to train alone in the searing American heat.

But Jensen said he was in better shape than ever as he targets a place in the starting team on August 9.

He said: “I don’t know much about him (Penny) other than he’s an international and he’s 24 so he’ll be a decent keeper and he’s got a lot of years ahead of him.

“But when Diego comes around it’ll be a fighting game again.

“We’ve always had a goalie’s union and I don’t see it being any different with Diego. We just have to get on with it and fight for our places.”

The Clarets squad fly home from the States today in preparation for their three-match tour of Scotland, starting with Queen of the South on Saturday.

And Jensen said their flying tour of America had been a worthwhile trip.

He added: “The weather’s been hot so it’s definitely going to be an advantage for us.

“So, fingers crossed, we’re just getting more fit and if we can get used to this weather it’ll be better for us when we get home “Every shooting exercise, every crossing exercise I have had to do on my own so it’s been tough but you can only get more fit.

“The facilities and the training has been really good everybody should be very fit by the time we get home.”

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