KEVIN Long says experiencing months of gruelling rehab with Dean Marney has helped him to come back stronger.

The pair have both been recovering from cruciate knee ligament injuries suffered more than two months apart.

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Long was the first of the duo – on his Premier League debut at Newcastle United on New Year’s Day.

In February Marney was struck by an injury that has become common at Turf Moor over the last 18 months.

But their comebacks are in tandem, and as well as the club’s medical team, Long says he owes a lot to Marney for helping him.

“Me and Dean Marney have been working in the gym together so it’s been good to have a partner, but it’s been a tough few months,” he said.

“He’s a good partner to have in the gym – the two of us have been pushing each other and working hard.

“He’s probably fitter than me in general so when we’re doing running he’s always ahead of me so that just pushes me that bit harder.

“He’s a machine. He was probably six to eight weeks behind me when he did it, but when we were doing the running he was out-running me, and he still out-runs me.

“It’s good because we’re two different positions so his game is about running so it’s good for him to be training with me and working on coming back from injury.”

Long’s injury could not have come at a worse time, having just come off the bench for his top-flight bow.

But he has maintained a positive outlook throughout, and believes he could well look back on it as a good thing.

“It couldn’t have been a worse debut,” he said.

“As soon as it happened I just said to myself ‘I’ve got to get on with it, there’s nothing I can do’.

“I spoke to Danny Ings when I just had the injury and he said that when he did his he came back quicker and stronger and came back a better player, so I’ve kind of looked at it like that and just worked hard in the gym,” added Long, who featured in Burnley’s Under-21 Premier League Cup win over Wigan at Turf Moor on Monday night.

“I know it wasn’t a proper game but it’s the best I’ve felt fitness-wise in a long time.

“I’m feeling good. I wanted to play the whole 90 minutes but my tendon was just feeling a bit sore. It came on all of a sudden so I came off as a precaution.”

The 25-year-old says he may benefit from “one or two” more development squad or friendly games, but feels close to putting himself back in the first-team frame, but stressed: “It’s up to the gaffer now really.”

While he would relish the opportunity to play for Burnley again in the Premier League, after having his debut cut short, his immediate aim is simple.

“I just want to get that chance to play at Burnley again and just get back out there and be involved with the first team again,” he said.

“That’s my aim now.”