TENDAYI Darikwa is eager to make the right back position his own at Burnley – despite competition from fellow new boy Matt Lowton.

Burnley signed Lowton from Aston Villa for around £1m earlier in the summer after Kieran Trippier departed for Tottenham.

MORE TOP STORIES:

But the Clarets then swooped for Darikwa last week, paying Chesterfield in the region of £600,000 for the 23-year-old’s services.

Darikwa is determined to secure a regular spot in the Burnley team this season despite the rivalry with Lowton, who remains a doubt for the Clarets’ season opener at Leeds United on Saturday because of a shin injury.

“I knew coming into the club that there are a lot of good players here but I wouldn’t have joined the football club if I didn’t think I could play,” he said.

“I’ve signed for the club on the basis of trying to break into the team, although I know that’s not going to be an easy job.

“I’ve plied my trade in League Two and League One and I feel like I’m ready for the step up. But obviously I’ve a lot to learn.

“Hopefully the management staff and the players can help me improve quickly and hopefully I can play in the team.”

Darikwa says he has been signed as a right back but he has also previously played on the right wing during his time at Chesterfield under the management of ex-Burnley midfielder Paul Cook.

“He was great for me, he’s helped me a lot in my career,” Darikwa said of the former Stanley boss.

“If needs be I can always help out further up the field but I think I’ve joined the club predominately as a full back.

“But as long as I’m out there I’m happy to play anywhere.”

Burnley fended off competition from other clubs for Darikwa’s signature.

Preston North End previously saw a bid rejected, although the player himself preferred to focus on the club he made his debut for in Michael Duff’s testimonial match at home to Bradford City on Saturday.

“I don’t want to talk about other clubs,” said the Nottingham-born player, whose father hails from Zimbabwe.

“I’m happy to be at the football club now and the club have given me the opportunity to play in the Championship.

“Hopefully I can repay that with some more performances like Saturday.

“I loved it on Saturday. It was my first time playing at the stadium but the fans gave me a warm welcome and I’m grateful for that.”

Keen to make a good impression at training, Darikwa admits he realised he was missing one crucial item ahead of his first session at the club.

“The move happened very quickly,” he said.

“I came up on Wednesday evening, the manager had a few meetings on Thursday so I was in the town for a while on Thursday but I got the deal over the line on Thursday night.

“I trained on Friday for the first time and I didn’t have my boots. The first session could have gone horribly wrong!

“But the boots I wore weren’t too bad, they were some brand new Adidas ones. I’m just grateful to the club for looking after me the way they have.

“Thankfully I managed to get back home and get my stuff and played on Saturday.”

Burnley received good news yesterday on Norwegian midfielder Fredrik Ulvestad, who was stretchered off during Saturday’s match and taken to hospital for X-rays.

But the X-rays showed no break and Ulvestad suffered only a twisted ankle.

The club say that will require ‘a period of rest’ and have given no indication yet whether or not Ulvestad will be ready to feature at Leeds.

Meanwhile, Shrewsbury Town boss Micky Mellon, the former Burnley player, says the Clarets are yet to meet the League One club’s valuation for 18-year-old Josh Ginnelly – but he expects the player to move to Turf Moor.

The winger has rejected a new deal at Shrewsbury in order to join Burnley but Ginnelly’s age means the Clarets would have to pay compensation.

Burnley had an offer rejected last week and Mellon suggested that another bid has since been turned down.

Mellon said: “I believe they have made us some offers that haven’t met our valuation.

“I’m sure the two clubs will come to some sort of an agreement because it’s probably what everyone wants.

“I expect there will be some closure on it very soon.”