BIG Brother has played a part in ensuring that Burnley players returned for training yesterday in tip-top condition.

The majority of the Clarets squad have enjoyed a week's break from Gawthorpe thanks to the enforced international break.

However, all the players were handed heart monitors to wear to maintain their fitness levels ahead of a return to Championship action against Leeds United this weekend.

And Clarets boss Steve Cotterill is delighted at the professionalism shown after casting his eye over the results.

"All the lads were back in yesterday after having a few days away from the place, but it's not been a complete break," he explained.

"They've had to wear heart monitors and they've had to exercise and do their running while they are away.

"There is no hiding away from that, but to be fair they have all come back, put their monitors in for analysis and everyone has done everything we asked of them. They have kept their fitness levels up, which is important."

The Clarets went into the 15-day break from competitive action in high spirits - unbeaten in four matches and enjoying back-to-back victories for the first time in 2005 thanks to six hard-earned points against Ipswich Town and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

And as Cotterill explained, there would have been little gained in keeping his small squad together, rather than allowing them to spend valuable time with their families.

He added: "There's not a lot we could have done anyway because we have Michael Duff and Karl Bermingham away, Danny Coyne and Wayne Thomas both out for the long term and Frank Sinclair and John McGreal couldn't have done much because of their injuries.

"We would probably have got to the stage where we had eight people training last week, so having a break might just have helped us, although you never fully know until you play the next game."

Meanwhile, former Republic of Ireland U21 goalkeeper Saul Deeley, who is spending the week training with the Clarets, looks set to resume his career at non-league Burton Albion after being released from his contract by Notts County.

Elsewhere, Graham Branch will meet his advisors later this week to decide whether to appeal against an FA charge following alleged gestures directed towards Derby County fans at Turf Moor on August 27, which it is claimed constitutes 'abusive and/or indecent and/or insulting behaviour.