JEFF Hendrick insists Burnley have to keep their foot on the gas as they seek to build on a dream start to life back in the Premier League.

The Clarets will be aiming for a perfect Christmas week when Sunderland visit Turf Moor on New Year’s Eve, after victory over Middlesbrough on Boxing Day made it six home wins already this term.

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That victory moved Burnley to 14th in the table and opened up a six-point cushion to the bottom three, with Saturday’s fixture against the Black Cats marking the halfway stage of the season.

Republic of Ireland international Hendrick, who will miss the New Year’s Eve clash after picking up a fifth booking of the season against Boro, is delighted with the start Burnley have made, but knows now is not the time for pats on the back.

“It’s looking good but we’ve got to keep going,” said the Clarets record signing.

“We can’t take our foot off the gas. We need to keep picking up points as much as we can and see where that leaves us.

“Every game is big in this league. We take each game CONTINUED: PAGE 45 as it comes. We are here at home again (on New Year’s Eve) and we need to make sure that we get the result that we need. (The win on Boxing Day) gives us confidence going into that game.”

Only Chelsea and Tottenham have picked up more home wins than Burnley so far this season.

The Clarets have collected only one point away from home but they have opened up a cushion to the drop zone despite that disappointing record, and Hendrick insists home form has to remain good.

“It’s massive. We’ve spoken about our home form and we needed to carry that on,” he said.

“With the weather, and the way the game was going, it’s always great to grind out results especially against teams that are around us.

“I think it’s very big to keep that winning form at home. It feels great; every win feels great. We can’t forget that feeling and we need to make sure that we can get it as much as we can.

“You need to battle, you’re not going to win every game pretty. You need to make sure that you can grind results out. It makes you feel good, especially around this period when the games come quick. You got to make sure that you grind them out and get a result.

“We’re confident every game. You look at the strength of the squad, with people coming in, you’ve got Vokesy coming off the bench and setting it up and Andre probably didn’t have much to do all game but he comes up with the goal that we needed.”

Crucially Burnley struck first against Boro, with Gray’s strike 10 minutes from time giving them something to defend.

Only once have they taken the lead away from home this season, when Ashley Barnes scored at Tottenham the week before Christmas.

“That’s the main thing in this league,” said Hendrick.

“I think the first goal is vital and sometimes it doesn’t come right until the end. It gives you something to hang on to, especially when you’re in the game.”