SEAN Dyche was pleased to see his players repay the trust he has placed in them by returning to pre-season in good shape.

While most Premier League sides returned to pre-season training on Monday, July 3, Burnley weren't back at Gawthorpe until the Thursday, for a couple of days of test, with the real work starting in Ireland this week.

On Tuesday Dyche put his squad through the yo-yo, or bleep tests, and was pleased to see they have all returned fit and firing.

"They’re in good shape, we’re really pleased with that," the Clarets chief said.

"The yo-yo test is only a measure, it’s one of many measures we do, skin folds, strength testing, yo-yo testing, it’s not an exact guideline but it gives you a good general guideline where most players are at and it’s fair to say they’ve come back in good shape."

With only six weeks between the end of the Premier League season and the week most top flight teams returned for pre-season, Dyche was keen to give his men a few extra days off.

"I trust my group, a lot of teams were in last Monday, but we came in on Thursday because I trust the group," he said.

"They had their programmes, they know what their demands are internally and they know from the Premier League.

"There’s a real honesty about the group and I’ve admired that for a long term so that trust goes into thinking that they’re almost definitely going to come back in good shape and I’m pleased to say they have."

Dyche has put his players through double sessions this week, aside from Wednesday when the squad had an afternoon off, and they will end the trip to Ireland with a game against Shamrock Rovers tomorrow (7pm).

And the Turf chief said the fact his players had returned in good shape meant they could get to work on planning for the new season earlier than expected as a result.

He said: "We’re really happy with the shape they’re in which allows us a bit more freedom to work with them on a more detailed basis rather than having to work them really hard early on to get their base up, their base fitness is already very good."

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