CLARETS assistant boss Dave Kevan threw out the welcome mat to Burnley's new-boys on the first day of pre-season training.

Burnley's squad reported back to Turf Moor yesterday after a summer's break and were immediately put through their paces.

Among those getting into the groove included all four close-season signings, Alan Mahon, Andy Gray, both of whom enjoyed loan spells last season, and Steve Jones and Steve Foster.

A light session was taken charge by Kevan, manager Steve Cotterill's right-hand man, and a similar schedule is arranged for today, followed by double sessions every day from next Monday at the club's Gawthorpe training ground.

"It's great to have the players back again," said Kevan. "They've enjoyed their break and it's always very pleasing to see them motivated and ready.

"Steve Foster and Steve Jones joined the group for the first time and they've settled in very well.

"I had a chat with them both and they look eager.

"It's a tough time of year for professional footballers, but they are more than used to it. They would have prepared themselves for pre-season.

"They knew exactly what's ahead of them.

"They have come back in reasonable shape, it's now just a case of pushing them on a bit.

"They came back and we had one session, just to get them back into the swing of things, get their legs moving and check on their fitness.

"Basically, we got them weighed and compared that to when they left us last season. We had a base run, a low-intensity run for about four of five minutes, just to get them moving.

"From Monday, it will be two sessions a day. They will come in for some breakfast, start training at 10.30am, have a break for lunch at 1pm and then on the training ground again.

"The first couple of weeks is about getting those fitness levels up to where we want them and getting them familiar with a ball again.

"As coaches, it's always a good time of year for us. We can spend some time with the players and get to know them."

Training will continue throughout next week ahead of Burnley's opening pre-season friendly at Accrington Stanley on Saturday, July 8.

They then face a 10-day wait before tackling Bury at Gigg Lane on Tuesday, July 18, and then host Premiership side Bolton Wanderers on Saturday, July 22, before jetting off to Italy for a six-day training trip in the Lake Garda region.

With four new signings on board, Kevan believes Burnley have greater depth in numbers than last season.

He added: "Certainly in terms of numbers, as we stand this is probably as strong as we have been, with plenty of competition for places throughtout the squad."