ERIK Pieters says the speed of his move to Burnley has been matched by how quickly he's settled in at Turf Moor.

The left back became the club's first summer signing when he arrived from Stoke for a deal believed to be worth £1.5 million.

According to the Dutchman, who has 18 caps for his country, making the switch to East Lancashire was something of a whirlwind as he was whisked off on the club's pre-season training camp in Portugal.

"It happened quickly," said the 30-year-old, who has made nearly 200 Premier League appearances.

"The week before Portugal I got a phone call, I think it was on the Wednesday, that they wanted to have me and then the manager called me and said he wanted me on the plane to Portugal by Monday.

"I thought ‘good luck with that’! But it all went really quickly.

"I had the medical on the Saturday night and on Sunday I signed and Monday I was on the plane."

The move came around so quickly that Pieters didn't have chance to discuss it with his former team mate at the Bet365 Stadium, Phil Bardsley.

He said: "I arrived at the airport and he was like ‘what are you doing here?’"

"I said ‘I’m in your team now’. It was fun and it was good.

"I knew a couple of the lads already but they’ve all taken me straight in.

"It’s a really good group to come into."

That bond was only strengthened in the Algarve with Pieters learning all about Sean Dyche's infamous 'gaffer's day' where the players are pushed to their limits as part of the build-up to the new Premier League campaign.

"It’s always good (to go away in pre-season)." said the defender, who finished last season on loan at Amiens in France after falling out of favour at Stoke,

"When you’re with the team you get to know each other much better and quicker instead of coming into the club and going home after training.

"Being in Portugal around the lads was really good.

"Gaffer’s day was lovely, I want do it again!

"Basically you train without balls. They are not allowed.

"They stay at the hotel and the only thing you see are stopwatches and a big speaker saying ‘go’ and ‘stop’.

"But it’s part of his thing and it was good.

"It’s all part of it and it prepares you mentally and gives you that edge and gives you that little bit more.

"When you’re doing it you hate it but afterwards you’re pleased.

"It was hard work but was fun and was a nice welcome into the team in Portugal.

"It’s good to get your fitness level up and get you mentally prepared for the hard work and the lads all did well."

As well as the hard work on the pitch, Pieters had to show his mettle off the field with the traditional initiation song that welcomes a new player to a club.

It's fair to say the man brought in to compete with Charlie Taylor at left back after Stephen Ward's departure is confident in that department.

"Of course there was a song –  I sing ‘Eye of the Tiger’," said the former PSV Eindhoven man, who has signed a two-year contract with the option of another 12 months.

"I know the song, back in the day it’s the tune from when we came through at FC Utrecht so I know the lyrics.

"My voice is beautiful and I think my missus is jealous!"