FORMER Claret Michael Keane admits he ‘still loves the club’ as he prepares for his first Turf Moor return this weekend.

Keane is back at Burnley with his new club Everton tomorrow after his £30million move to Merseyside in the summer and said he ‘can’t wait’ to renew acquaintances with his former teammates.

Keane spent three years with the Clarets and the 25-year-old said he is looking forward to a return and said he has enjoyed watching Burnley’s remarkable rise to seventh this season.

“Burnley have been brilliant, it’s been great to watch from outside,” the England international said.

“I know how hard they work and how they train and things like that, so to see them doing so well has been brilliant.

“I still love the club and I speak to a lot of players there and see them, they’re all my mates and I’m happy they’re doing well.

“At the weekend I’ll try and forget that because it’s a big game for us, we can go level on points with Burnley with a win and we’re both vying for that seventh place.

“Whilst it’s great to see Burnley up there we need to get the win.”

Keane has faced his former club once already this season, with the Clarets winning 1-0 at Goodison Park in October.

That was one of several stand-out victories in the first half of the season, culminating in the 1-0 success over Stoke City on December 12 that briefly took Burnley fourth.

But they haven’t won since and although they remain seventh, Leicester City are only a point behind with Everton two further back.

So Saturday’s meeting is a key one and Keane expects the memories to come ‘flooding back’ once he arrives at Turf Moor.

“I had three great seasons there and I loved how I got treated by the fans and I’m looking forward to seeing my mates as well at the club,” he said.

“It will be a special occasion for me, but I’ll have to try and put it to one side and forget about it and focus on the game. I’ll do that but it won’t be easy because I’ve got a lot of special memories there and I’m sure they will all come flooding back.”

Keane can certainly warn his Everton teammates of what to expect in East Lancashire.

He added: “I don’t think away teams enjoy playing at Turf Moor. The home fans get right behind the team.

“I think the fans are part of the reason their home form is so good, they give it a real go at home, they don’t sit off any teams, they look for the win no matter who they’re playing against.

“It’s little things like the away changing rooms aren’t great, some teams just don’t fancy it, it can be cold and windy up there. When you play for Burnley you get used to it and it becomes part of what the club is about.

“I know what to expect, I can’t wait to go back.”