BURNLEY have been thrown in at the deep end with a Premier League opener against Chelsea, but defender Kieran Trippier declared: “It’s a great time to play them!”.

The Clarets have been handed a tough start with Jose Mourinho’s men and Manchester United the first games at Turf Moor, either side of a trip to Swansea to announce their return to the top flight.

But rather than ease themselves in, Trippier admits he would rather bring on the big guns straight away.

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“I think it’s a great time to play them to be honest – first game of the season,” said the right back.

“Coming to Turf Moor, they won’t like being pressed.

“We’ve got our gameplan.

“We know what they’re all about.

“But like we did last year we want to take it game by game and who knows where we’ll be at the end of the season.”

‘One game at a time’ was a well-worn statement in the Clarets camp as they moved towards automatic promotion.

And Trippier is sure it will serve them just as well at the top level as they try to defy widespread expectations of a season-long struggle.

The 23-year-old has a personal agenda too.

After finding first team opportunities with Manchester City almost impossible to come by upon progressing through their youth ranks, he stepped back from the Premier League in search of regular senior football.

Promotion came more quickly than he anticipated with Burnley, but he said: “I can’t wait for it.

“I believe in my ability to play in the Premier League and I want to do well for the club and for myself and show people what I can do.

“People might have probably doubted that I am a Premier League player but I just want to do well and do my talking on the pitch.”

Trippier, who has been named in the PFA Championship team of the year in each of the last two seasons, added the group mentality was strong too.

“We all believe in each other’s ability and I don’t think anyone in the team is nervous or scared, it’s just excitement more than anything,” he said.

“It doesn’t matter who you are playing against, it’s just another game.

“You know all about the quality of the individual but if you believe in your ability then you won’t have a problem.

“The underdog tag sat with us all last year.

“We were among the favourites to get relegated but we proved everyone wrong.

“Everyone thought we were going to blow up but we didn’t.

“We stuck in there and got automatic promotion with 94 points, which is what people forget sometimes.

“This year will be the same – we just want to prove people wrong.”