BURNLEY new boy Jon Walters has vowed to help the Clarets avoid second season syndrome and insists he’s ‘as hungry as ever’ to succeed in the top flight.

The Republic of Ireland international says maintaining a desire is key to making sure Sean Dyche’s side can build on last season’s Premier League survival.

And although he may be entering the twilight of his career, turning 34 in September, Walters hasn’t lost the fire that made him a fans’ favourite at Stoke before he ended his seven-year stay in the Potteries for a move to Turf Moor last week.

His first taste of top flight action came at Bolton Wanderers under Sam Allardyce, and Walters can remember it being drilled in to the squad not to rest on their laurels after one season in the Premier League.

“I remember from my time at Bolton, it was massive under Sam Allardyce to avoid second season syndrome,” he told the Lancashire Telegraph.

“A lot of teams who don’t go down in the first season tend to get a little bit comfortable and go down in the second one, thinking they’ve already done it and not stepping on again, but we’ll make sure that doesn’t happen here.

“It’s a big season, the teams that have come up will treat every game like a cup final and there will be some big games to start off with, but bring it on!”

Walters may have sounded the rallying call when it comes to making sure Burnley can push on in 2017/18, but he is ready to back it up on the pitch as well.

The task now awaiting the Clarets is establishing themselves as a regular Premier League outfit, and Walters said taking strides forward is key.

“If you stand still you go backwards, you’ve got to work harder each year and add to it,” he added.

“Fitness levels are exceptional here and that always helps, but you’ve got to fight for everything and not be comfortable, you need to always have that hunger, down the years players lose it but I’ve never lost that.

“I’m as hungry as ever to play and to perform and help the team out in any way I can.”

The versatile Walters, who can play wide as well up front, wasn’t at Stoke when they initially made the jump from the Championship to the Premier League, but he has played a part into turning them into a force to be reckoned with at this level.

Asked how it had been done, he added: “They built steadily, the owners are very good, they did it the right way and there seems to be a similar set-up here.

“There’s great staff, a great manager in terms of the thinking to do the same sort of thing, they’ve spent over the last couple of years on building a good training ground, good facilities for the players and giving them every chance to go out and perform. It seems to be getting done the right way.”

  • The Lancashire Telegraph is following Burnley on tour in association with Accrington Clarets Supporters Club