SAM Vokes wants to help Burnley emulate the club that launched his professional career and establish themselves as a Premier League outfit next term.

The 26-year-old came through the youth ranks at Bournemouth and scored 16 goals in 59 games before departing in 2008 when the Cherries were relegated to League Two.

Vokes was 19 when he left Dean Court for Wolves with Bournemouth staring into the abyss, having been docked 27 points over the previous two seasons due to financial problems.

But, backed by Russian owner Maxim Demin, they were in the Premier League for the first time last season and finished 16th.

Now Vokes wants to see the Clarets follow in the footsteps of Bournemouth, who won the Championship title the season before Burnley, and Watford, who finished 13th after promotion, and survive in the Premier League having been relegated in 2009/10 and 2014/15.

“I left there a few years ago and they got relegated into League Two at the time and were in a lot of trouble financially,” said Vokes, who finished the season with 16 goals.

“They’ve done fantastic and we’re going into next year looking to emulate the likes of Bournemouth and Watford.

“That’s going to be our aim, to be like them next year.”

As well as lining up in the top flight against his former club, Vokes will also come head-to-head once again with his boyhood team, and the side of his dad, Southampton.

The Saints have proved to be a progressive outfit since their promotion in 2012, finishing 14th, eighth, seventh and then sixth in the Premier League.

Vokes will find out the date of his return to the south coast when the fixtures are released on June 15, and he admits it is one he is relishing.

“Being from down that area it’s a fixture to look out for,” said the Wales international, who is part of Chris Coleman’s 23-man squad for Euro 2016.

“It’s exciting. Going to the Premier League everyone looks out for when the fixtures are announced.

“It’s a great time to be involved with a club like Burnley.”

Vokes will be seeking his first Premier League goal when the action gets underway in August, having gone 15 games without hitting the back of the net after his return from injury midway through the Clarets’ last top flight campaign.

Burnley ultimately fell just short two years ago, but Vokes believes the squad can benefit from that experience as they look to go one better next term.

“I think that can only help us,” he said.

“I think that helped us this year, a core of the lads were similar to the group that got promoted last time and we’re going into a Premier League season with a similar sort of side, and I’m sure we’ll add to it in the summer and look to stay up.”