Clarets ready for serious action

BURNLEY boss Stan Ternent is looking down before he looks up.

After the elation of a seventh place finish in the Nationwide League's Division One table at the end of last season -- exceeding all expectations -- the Clarets go into the new season with Ternent determined his side firstly underline their status.

They start with a trip to Sheffield Wednesday tomorrow evening and the Turf Moor manager knows it will be a test of his side's character that will be repeated week after week as the campaign unfolds.

"It is always important that we ensure survival first because it establishes us as a First Division outfit," said Ternent.

"Some people will say we shouldn't be worried about the points and I'm not when we have got them, but until I get them then I am!

"That is the target and then we can crack on.

"There will be times when you can't buy a win or a goal. It is how you react to those situations.

"If we can keep away from injuries and suspensions then we will have people playing for their places. They will know if they do not do the business then they know someone is there to take their place."

Wednesday are regrouping after clawing their way to survival last season after threatening to continue their fall from grace, but Ternent was understandably more bothered about his players' attitude going into the opening fixture. "We are looking forward to facing Sheffield Wednesday. We have worked hard pre-season and the acid test comes at 6.15pm tomorrow," said Ternent.

"The players are in good shape. They have trained very hard and should be ready.

"Wednesday is a big match for us. It is a good place to go nice stadium. Burnley's record over the years is poor, so we will have to put that right.

"But any side that plays us will know they have been in a game and everybody is geared up for the first game of the season and everybody is out to impress and get off to a good start.

"Sheffield Wednesday will be no different. We will both want to win this one."

Wednesday completed the signing of centre back Danny Maddix in time for the start of the campaign with the 34-year-old Londoner, a free agent after his contract with Queens Park Rangers expired in the summer, impressed Owls boss Peter Shreeves during a trial period at the blub.

Maddix, who figured in all of Wednesday's pre-season fixtures, earned him a one-year contract plus an option for a second year and will replace former England international Des Walker who was not retained by the club.

It has been a big boost for Wednesday boss Peter Shreeves, who said: "I am delighted that things have turned out this way.

"In Danny, we have recruited an experienced defender who has played all of his football at either Premier League or First Division standard. What's more, he is a smashing lad who has settled into the squad very smoothly."

Goalkeeper Kevin Pressman, Trond Soltvedt and Ashley Westwood have all returned to training following lay-offs with Pressman, who had been sidelined by a calf problem, and Soltvedt both lined up the feature against Burnley.

Westwood has missed pre-season is not match fit, while the Owls are also without Andy Hinchcliffe, Phil O'Donnell, Phil Scott and Tony Crane, who misses the first three League matches through suspension. Ternent too has his problems with Mitchell Thomas and Graham Branch out through injury, new signing Dimitri Papadopoulos on Greek under-21 international duty and Kevin Ball suspended for two games, but he was upbeat about the Clarets situation.

"We had a good start last season but the results December to mid-February were poor and the reason for that was we had a lot of injuries and suspensions," he said.

"This year is different because we have fairly strong squad.

"Mitchell won't be fit, Kevin Ball is suspended, Dimitri is with the Greek squad and Branch won't be available as he's injured his Achilles. So before we have moved we have lost four, so that is why I need strength in depth and comeptition for places and I am hopeful I have that. We'll see how things go."