NEW Burnley goalkeeper Will Norris believes his path to Turf Moor has plenty of similarities with that of Clarets No.1 Nick Pope.

The 27-year-old has become the club’s first summer signing and strengthens a department in need of numbers after the departures of Joe Hart and Adam Legzdins at the end of their contracts.

Arriving from Wolves for an undisclosed fee on a three-year deal, Norris has been brought in to compete with both Pope and Bailey Peacock-Farrell

Pope and Norris were in the same Cambridge squad back in 2013 and like the England man, the Watford-born shot-stopper cut his teeth in non-league, playing for Hatfield Town and Royston Town before joining the U’s.

Norris arrives having made eight appearances during his three years with Wolves, spending last season on loan in League One with Ipswich.

“I’ve played from the Conference all the way through to the top-flight and it’s been a natural progression through the divisions, much like Popey’s to be honest,” Norris said.

“At Wolves I joined a really good Championship side, with John Ruddy as number one.

“But they just took off in leaps and bounds, and although you are buzzing that it is happening, you’re thinking that your opportunities are becoming very limited.

“Then with the loan at Ipswich last season, it was like whoever the best 11 were in training played and there were a lot of changes throughout the season, all over the pitch.

“We just had a great squad depth, there were a lot of good players, but it was obviously disappointing to end the season how it did.

“Now is time for me to sort of regroup and start a new challenge, which is here at Burnley Football Club.”

Pope is out in front at Turf Moor, eyeing the England No.1 spot after scooping two Player of the Year prizes and just missing out on the Premier League Golden Glove to Manchester City’s Ederson.

But keeper coach Billy Mercer insists that Norris has come to compete.

“You need three top-class goalkeepers in the Premier League and with Joe (Hart) and Adam (Legzdins) leaving the building we needed to add to the group,” he said.

“The pathway is you go and play games and you grow as a goalkeeper.

“Will has done that by going out on loan to Ipswich and playing 15 league games and is looking forward to the new challenge here.

“When you look at Tom Heaton and Nick Pope’s pathway, they’ve had to bide their time and the players here know that if they get an opportunity here and take it, they’ll stay in the side.

“I always say I don’t do one, two and three. We have three goalkeepers who are ready to play, and while one will go into the first team, the other two have to be ready to play.”

Norris, for his part, admits he can’t wait to get down to work at Barnfield with Mercer and boss Sean Dyche.

“I’m absolutely buzzing to be here. It’s a great opportunity for me and I’m looking forward to getting going,” he told the club website.

“I heard Burnley we’re interested, and it just went from there really and it’s the perfect fit for myself and the right opportunity.

“There’s a great goalkeeping unit here, so I’m just hoping to come here and add something a little bit different.

“Burnley is a great club; an established Premier League club and it’s a fantastic opportunity for me.”