NIGEL Gleghorn turned his back on a host of Nationwide clubs to pledge his future to Burnley.

And as a new chapter unfolds for the all-action midfielder, he instinctively knows he has made the right decision.

Gleghorn's five-star man-of-the-match display in the 2-1 win over Walsall underlined just what a major factor he will play in the Clarets expected push for honours.

"My first impressions of Burnley are extremely good ones," revealed Gleghorn.

"They struggled last season and I half expected to arrive to a picture of doom and gloom. But not a bit of it.

"The players are all really up for the job. There is a really positive theme sweeping through the club.

"The coaching side is very organised and the manager and John Ward both give us really positive vibes in the dressing room.

"They are not at all negative. The system the manager has deployed is a positive one.

"It enables the full-backs to get forward and, instead of perhaps just one midfielder getting into the penalty box, we're all involved." Heath is so impressed with Gleghorn's approach - he wants to re-sign him in two years time at the ripe old age of 35!

Gleghorn, though, is more concerned about the present. He says he is not just inspired by the senior members of the squad - but the up and coming stars.

"Chris Brass is a bright young lad and I think he is a smashing defender," added Gleghorn.

"He's a really tough player and a very good prospect.

"Young Paul Weller has also shown a lot of promise and so has Paul Smith.

"Andy Cooke is a striker for the future. He has impressed me with his work-rate, bravery and general approach to the game.

"He's not long out of non-league football and is quite raw. But he is learning all the time. "Most of all though, I'm extremely impressed with the quality of players there are at the club. I just think we need a bit more devilment in our play.

"We've got a very good footballing side, but our problem, I think, is stopping teams from nicking wins after we've dominated a game.

"We will have to cut that out and I'm sure we will."

Gleghorn, who finished last season with nine Division One goals at Stoke - only Mike Sheron at Norwich and Stoke, with 15, and Simon Sturridge from Derby, with 13, scored more.

An impressive goal return and one which convinced Victoria Ground boss Lou Macari to offer Gleghorn a new two-year deal over the summer. "Although I had a lot of ties at Stoke, I just knew the time was right for me to move on," he admitted.

"This is a big move for me. I could have gone to a number of clubs, picked up my pay packet and had an easier life elsewhere."

Gleghorn - who sets himself a target of 10 goals a season - is not yet off the mark for Burnley in the league.

He did, though, find the net on the Clarets' tour to Northern Ireland - scoring in the 5-0 romp at Newtonards.

But the 33-year-old is not unduly worried about that as he settles in with his fifth Football League club.

"It took me 12 games to get off the mark at Stoke. But it's no use putting pressure on yourself at an early stage.

"I know the goals will come. To be honest I enjoy setting up goals for my team mates as much as I do scoring them."

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