SAM Vokes’ Burnley teammates are ‘proud’ of the Wales international’s performances at Euro 2016, according to his Clarets strike partner Andre Gray.

Vokes and the rest of Chris Coleman’s history-making Welsh squad were given a heroes welcome in Cardiff yesterday as they returned home after their semi-final defeat to Portugal.

It was the end of a remarkable campaign for the Red Dragons and Vokes more than played his part, starting twice and scoring the third goal in a famous quarter-final success against Belgium.

The 26-year-old will now have a couple of weeks off before returning to pre-season training with Burnley, probably in the last week of July, and although most of his teammates were being put through their paces at Gawthorpe last week, Vokes’ achievements have stirred pride amongst Sean Dyche’s squad.

“He’s been fantastic,” said Gray. “You saw how many important goals he scored for us last season and the affect he has on games. Even when he came on as a substitute he was massive and changed the game.

“All the boys are really proud of him. We’ve all spoken to him so we’re buzzing for what he’s done.

“The Portugal result was obviously gutting for him but they should all be proud of what they’ve done.”

The highlight of Vokes’ tournament came in the 86th minute of the 3-1 win over Belgium when he headed Chris Gunter’s cross beyond Thibaut Courtois.

And Gray believes it was a goal of huge quality.

“That’s Vokesy all over,” said Burnley’s record signing. “I remember Drogba doing that in the Champions League final (for Chelsea against Bayern Munich) and nobody shut up about it.

“It was exactly the same kind of header. That’s Vokesy and that’s what he does.”

The former Bournemouth striker won his 44th cap off the bench against Portugal and immediately caused problems with his aerial ability, an attribute that Gray thrived off last season as the pair scored 39 goals between them for the Clarets.

“Defenders aren’t going to like it in the Premier League,” Gray said of Vokes’ aerial ability.

“You’ve seen him rough (Jose) Fonte around against Portugal and you can tell that they don’t enjoy it.

“It’s massive for us to get him back here and back to fitness. I’m sure he’ll be ready to go for the start of the season.”

Vokes’ appearance against Portugal was his 23rd cap since he moved to Turf Moor and it took him to joint fifth on the list of all-time most capped Clarets, alongside Canada’s David Edgar and countryman Leighton James.

Vokes will return to Burnley hoping to break his Premier League goal duck, having spent most of the 2014/15 season battling back from the cruciate knee ligament injury that ruled him out for nine months, and Gray believes he will return full of belief after Wales’ adventure in France.

“It can’t not give you confidence,” he said. “Even with (Hal) Robson-Kanu who has been playing in the Championship – I think he’ll be in the Premier League now.

“He’s going to come back feeling like a Premier League player after doing what he’s done. That’s football.

“When you’re playing against the World and European elite and achieving what you have then you’re always going to come back confident. It’s going to be great for us having Vokesy back here.”