STEVE Cotterill is raring to get down to business and really earn his spurs as Burnley boss.

Cotterill has reported a clean bill of health on the playing side ahead of Saturday's First Division curtain-raiser against Sheffield United at Turf Moor.

And the Clarets chief simply cannot wait for the big kick off to put everything he has practiced since arriving two months ago into practice.

"We just have a few more things to finish off on the training ground now and then it's down to the real business," said Cotterill.

"Saturday can't come quickly enough from a personal point of view and I know everyone is really looking forward to it."

Sheffield United today reported selling over 3,000 tickets for the weekend War of the Roses, which seems sure to draw a bumper opening day crowd to Turf Moor to see Cotterill's first meaningful game in charge.

He added: "There should be a big crowd here, which is great because the more supporters we have behind us, the better."

Meanwhile, Burnley's niggling injuries have cleared up in the nick of time to leave all 16 professionals at Cotterill's disposal.

Midfield schemer Tony Grant returned to full training in midweek after recovering from the ankle injury that saw him substituted in the second game of Burnley's Austrian tour, while the ever- versatile Graham Branch has put a stiff back behind him and goalkeeper Danny Coyne has responded to treatment on a thigh muscle strain.

Ian Moore is also ready to resume starting duties alongside regular strike partner and new captain Robbie Blake.

Moore has only partnered joint-record £1m signing Blake from the kick-off in one game, the opening pre-season friendly against Accrington Stanley, after suffering ankle ligament damage against Dundee United the following weekend.

But with a 75-minute run out against 1860 Munich behind him, and a clear week to recover, he too is eager for the cut-and-thrust of the testing Coca Cola Championship clash with the Blades.

Moore, who skippered the Clarets in the corresponding fixture last season, said: "I think if you asked a lot of players, they have been looking at the Sheffield United game for a couple of weeks now.

"The pressure has been on to get the fitness and get sharp for that game because their manager, Neil Warnock, has brought some good players in this summer and it's not going to be an easy start for us.

"We go to Rotherham after that and they are never an easy team to play against, so we know it's going to be a hard first few games.

"But if we get a good start, I really think we should be okay."