FORMER Clarets promotion star Clarke Carlisle says that 2008/9 squad were ‘eons away’ from Sean Dyche’s current side.

But Carlisle, almost ever-present in the side that triumphed in the Championship play-off final against Sheffield United at Wembley in 2009, believes Burnley boss Dyche now has a task on his hands to temper expectations after the club’s best start to a campaign in 106 years.

The retired defender, now a pundit and commentator for ITV, was back at Turf Moor yesterday to sign copies of his autobiography at the UCFB College of Football Business.

Carlisle, 33, said: “They way they have started is utterly outstanding. It’s brilliant. It’s an exciting time to be a Clarets fan.

“Sean Dyche has got a job on his hands because that has just built expectation and now everyone is excited, expectation raises.

“What will constitute success is going to differ massively now to what it would have done in pre-season.”

Carlisle, released from Turf Moor in 2012, believes the size of Dyche’s squad may pose problems as the season goes on.

He added: “He’s got a small squad, but I’ve been speaking with Michael Duff, one of my good friends from my time here, and he is excited.

“He thinks that this group is far better that the side that went up, in a different way.

“The side that went up that I was part of, we were great mates and would have ran through brick walls for each other, but I think technically and professionally we were eons away from this side. I’m really interested to see what they achieve.”