JAMES Tarkowski insists Burnley aren’t getting carried away by their bright start to the Premier League season.

The Clarets have been the surprise package of the season so far with just two defeats from their first 11 games.

That fine form sees them sitting seventh at this stage of the campaign, level on points with Arsenal and Liverpool and four points clear of the chasing pack.

But centre back Tarkowski, who has been one of Burnley’s outstanding performers since replacing Michael Keane in the side, insists feet are remaining firmly on the floor at Turf Moor, despite the start.

“We’ve got to keep working towards the target of staying in the league at first. If we do that with games in hand then we can start looking ahead but for now we’re just working towards our goal of staying in the league and then we’ll go from there,” the 24-year-old said.

“That’s what I say to myself and it’s the way that we’re managed by the manager. He’s not getting carried away and we’re not getting carried away with how we’re performing and the results that we’re getting.

“Obviously it’s nice to have the points on the board and see where we are when we look at the table but it’s where you are at the end of the season that counts and not where you are after 11 games.

“It’s probably the best way to go about it. If you look too far ahead then you can start getting a bit too excited and too carried away with yourselves.

“We’ll keep working hard, keep trying to pick up points against the good sides and the more points we get on the board now, the better chance it gives us of staying up at the end of the season.

“It’s a long season and we know that. We know it’s been a good start so we can build confidence from that. It’s enjoyable to be out there at the moment and we’re looking forward to the next game and hoping for another positive result.”

Although ambitions are remaining in check for now Tarkowski said the side were taking plenty of confidence from their fine early months of the season, which has seen only West Brom and Manchester City get the better of the Clarets.

“It’s a long season and we know that,” the former Brentford man said. “We know it’s been a good start so we can build confidence from that.

“It’s enjoyable to be out there at the moment and we’re looking forward to the next game and hoping for another positive result.”

The results away from Turf Moor have been particularly impressive, with wins at Chelsea, Everton and Southampton and draws at Tottenham and Liverpool, but Tarkowski insists that away day turnaround has come as no major surprise to him.

“We knew away from home it was going to be a difficult start so it was nice to pick up those points,” he said.

“I wouldn’t say I’m surprised but it’s nice to have those points on the board. It’s a long season so we know things can change quickly so we need to make sure that things are right for all 38 games rather than 11.”