PHIL Bardsley will aim to get more minutes under his belt against Hannover tomorrow as the Clarets right-back plays catch up with his teammates.

The former Manchester United defender joined Burnley midway through pre-season and had missed some training with Stoke City earlier in the summer due to a back problem.

That has left him behind the curve when it comes to fitness ahead of the Premier League kick-off a week tomorrow against Chelsea.

But the 'intense' regime run by Sean Dyche at Gawthorpe has seen the 32-year-old make significant progress, and after featuring for just over 15 minutes against Nottingham Forest he played the second half of the 2-2 draw with Celta Vigo on Tuesday.

"It’s been tough, for myself because I had a week off getting a few bits and bobs done and having a couple of injections so that set me back a bit," Bardsley said of his pre-season.

"I’ve had a few niggles from before I came here so I’m just getting up to speed with the lads now.

"I’m getting the cobwebs off and hopefully I’ll be back up to speed in no time.

"I played a bit at Forest and 45 minutes before that so that (against Celta) was basically my second 45 minutes in a long time. Hopefully in the coming weeks I’ll be there or thereabouts.

"The training is intense and the attitude to it is spot on, I didn’t need to buy into it because I know what it’s all about and I enjoy that side of the training and I like it when it’s proper and it certainly is here.

"The first couple of weeks have been enjoyable and hopefully it can be a successful season."

Bardsley has been brought in to provide competition for Matt Lowton at right-back and the duo will be vying for a starting spot against the champions at Stamford Bridge next weekend.

"There’s some good players here, that’s what gets the best out of players, everyone is fighting for their place and that’s how it should be," he said.

"Hopefully I can get another game in and some more minutes and press on from there.

"It is a tricky start but it’s the Premier League and that’s what it’s about, you’re playing the best teams in the world, it’s the best league in the world and that's why everyone wants to play here. I’m no different, I want to keep doing it and hopefully I can keep doing it here."