THERE will be few, if any, shocks once Burnley’s retained list – or rather released list – is made public.

The contracts of seven senior professionals were due to expire this summer.

One has already been finalised, with long-serving defender Michael Duff penning a new one-year deal, while new terms are on the table for goalkeeper Brian Jensen.

Should he sign, the 2012/13 campaign will be the Dane’s 10th with the club, and there have already been discussions about the possibility of a testimonial.

For almost all of the remaining five, it would be fair to say that they have played their last games for the club.

Indeed, that is a situation Clarke Carlisle will have come to accept for some time, given that his last appearance for the Clarets came over a year ago.

Since then he has been loaned out to Preston North End and Northampton Town.

Back at Turf Moor, manager Eddie Howe focused on crafting a younger, more vibrant, hungrier squad to try to emulate the old guard’s achievements.

Alex MacDonald, who is nearing the end of the one-year deal he penned last summer, has been offered new terms.

The Scotland Under 21 international had impressed Howe with his work rate and enthusiasm last pre-season, and while on the fringes of the Burnley squad during the course of the campaign.

But those qualities really came to the fore when he was loaned out to Plymouth Argyle, and made a significant contribution to the Pilgrims avoiding the drop from the Football League.

MacDonald’s four goals were all meaningful – all counting towards points that the Devon club desperately needed to survive.

Throwing himself into the challenge, hundreds of miles away from home, has gone down well with Howe, who is hoping to keep the feisty forward for at least another 12 months.

Third choice goalkeeper Jon Stewart was loaned out to Alfreton at the end of the season, but the Clarets could yet take up a one-year option in his current contract.

But it would seem the Burnley boss had made his mind up long before the season came to a close about Andre Amougou, after allowing the versatile defender to go on loan to Bristol City, while Brian Easton was given permission to have a trial with Leeds United in April.

On paper, it would be a blow to lose Amougou. On his day, most managers in the division would want the colossal Cameroon international on their side.

But concentration has been a big concern. He has cost goals.

The club’s big earner was not worth the risk. Getting him off the wage bill should give Howe more scope to recruit and replace.