BURNLEY boss Steve Cotterill believes his side are bang on target to start the Championship season in the shape of their lives.

The Clarets ramp up their pre-season schedule at Accrington Stanley tomorrow night in their second pre-season friendly.

But already Cotterill, who has spent the summer scouring the globe for new players, has seen enough to praise all his backroom team for getting the new-look squad on course for the big kick off in just 18 days time.

He said: "There hasn't been any work done on team play yet. The first we did was when we kicked off at Cheltenham last Saturday, but you can't do all that at once.

"We want to get the players up to a level of fitness first and the important thing is, even though we didn't look sharp at Cheltenham, we also didn't look leggy.

"Yes, it's nice to score a goal, keep a clean sheet and win a game, however they come along. But it's not imperative and I would rather have all those things in the first week of the season than think about them now.

"All I know is the lads have absolutely worked their socks off and I need to thank all my staff for that.

"It has been hard work this summer and since we came back on July 1, I don't think I've been quite with it and they have been the ones to keep me going.

"To be honest I still need a little bit of help at the moment because I am looking 10 months ahead and breaking it down into smaller chunks.

"But now we are back into the games, my staff's motivation and enthusiasm has helped to kick start me again, so a big thank you to them for preparing the team."

Cotterill is expected to name the same squad for tomorrow's annual trip to the Interlink Express Stadium, which kicks off at 7.45pm.

Meanwhile, former Burnley target Richard Keogh was today set to sign for League One side Bristol City. The former Stoke City defender, who looked set to join the Clarets late last week before the move collapsed, has since played in a pre-season friendly for City, who have now offered the player a two-year deal.

And ex-Clarets skipper Robbie Blake last night completed his move from Birmingham City to Leeds United for an initial £800,000 fee.

Blake, who will now return to Turf Moor with United in mid-October, said: "I'm going to a fantastic club.

"I'm really happy to have made the move here and I might be dropping out of the Premiership but hopefully I can get back there with Leeds."