ASHLEY Barnes insists Burnley have to forget about last season as they prepare for an ‘even tougher’ challenge in maintaining their Premier League status again in 2017/18.

The Clarets secured top flight survival for the first time in four decades last season, finishing 16th and six points clear of the danger zone.

But Barnes believes they have to back that up before they can claim to be an established force at this level.

The 27-year-old expects to see Burnley written off again this season, but he is determined to prove the critics wrong when the action begins on August 12.

“You can’t look back at last season and what we did or what you scored, you’ve got to move on,” Barnes said.

“It’s a new season ahead and a new challenge and it’s going to be even tougher.

“People will still be writing us off but we’ve got to come back with a bang like we did. We’ve got to do it season after season to be a Premier League club, that’s the hardest part of it.”

Barnes made a scoring return to action for Burnley on Friday night, finding the net in the 4-0 win against Shamrock Rovers at the Tallaght Stadium.

Fellow strikers Jon Walters and Sam Vokes were also on the scoresheet, as was Robbie Brady, and while Barnes admits friendlies are mainly about getting minutes under the belt, he was happy to be back among the goals.

“It’s mainly fitness work that we’re concentrating on, but they were a good side and as a striker it’s nice to hit the back of the net,” he said.

“There is real competition up front now, Jon is a great addition, he’s just what we needed. We’ve recruited well and long may it continue.

“There’s more signings to come I’d imagine and we’ve got to get together and crack on throughout pre-season, we need to work hard and train hard to be ready for Chelsea.

“It’s my aim to start the season quickly, to get through pre-season without any niggles.”

The Friday night friendly against the League of Ireland Premier Division side came at the end of a five-day training camp for the Clarets at Carton House, around 15 miles outside Dublin.

Barnes said the fitness work carried out during the week had taken the squad to a ‘dark place’, but added that it was a beneficial experience both on and off the pitch, with new signings Charlie Taylor, Walters and Jack Cork able to bed in among their new teammates.

“It’s been very tough on the legs, but we know we had to get it ticked off,” the striker said.

“They’re massive these weeks, we need this to bond, but we’re a good group of lads, we’re a tight-knit group and that’s a big part of what we do.”