HE had waited more than four months just to get back on the pitch, but Charlie Austin’s first Burnley goal arrived only seven minutes into his comeback from injury.

It seems quite some time ago now that the Clarets snapped up Austin for £1.2m from Swindon Town.

Six months is indeed a long time in football.

Austin reminded the 1,313 travelling fans – comfortably outnumbering Bury’s home support – of the emerging talent that remains very much at Burnley’s disposal.

Making his return after an operation on a dislocated shoulder in early March, having been rested for Saturday’s opening pre-season game at Altrincham as a precaution, Austin received the ball on the edge of the area and wasted no time before pulling the trigger.

A slight deflection helped his cause, but the ferocity of the shot suggested a penalty box confidence that could yet prove pivotal this season.

The first goal did not take long to come, with Alex MacDonald doing well to win back possession before providing the pass for Austin to find the net.

Alex MacDonald enjoyed a lively display and was rewarded with a goal eight minutes before half time, as he collected Marvin Bartley’s lay-off and rifled an angled shot low into the far corner.

Burnley made seven changes at half time, with 45 minutes sufficient for Austin on his return, but substitute Chris Eagles saw his penalty saved seven minutes into the second half.

Chris Iwelumo made it 3-0 with a far post header from Ross Wallace’s cross.

But it was Austin’s night.

Burnley: Lee Grant (Jon Stewart 78); Kevin Long (Leon Cort 46), Andre Bikey (Michael Duff 46), David Edgar (Alex-Ray Harvey 71), Danny Fox (Brian Easton 46); Wade Elliott (Mehdi Lazaar 61, Dominic Knowles 78), Marvin Bartley (Dean Marney 46), Chris McCann (Chris Eagles 46); Alex MacDonald (Wes Fletcher 61), Charlie Austin (Chris Iwelumo 46), Jay Rodriguez (Ross Wallace 46).

Bury: Cameron Belford (Richie Branagan 77); Phil Picken (Zach Rothwell 77), Ben Futcher (Mark Hughes 46), Efe Sodje (Andrai Jones 72), Joe Skarz (Liam Bothwell 84); Andy Haworth, Damien Mozika (Max Harrop 54), Steven Schumacher (Dalton McCloughlin 84), David Worrall (Luke McCarthy 77); Lenell John-Lewis (Danny Hudson 72), Ryan Lowe (Jordan Melia 84).

Referee: Eddie Ilderton.

Attendance: 2,174.