BATTLING Burnley striker Ade Akinbiyi feels he is in the form of his life after starting the season with a bang.

Akinbiyi's late brace sealed a comprehensive four-goal victory over Coventry City last weekend and took his tally to three in as many games this season.

And with a strike rate now better than a goal every two games - seven in twelve starts since his £600,000 move from Stoke City last February - the Clarets hitman is determined to make this his best season ever in front of goal.

He said: "I'm pleased with my strike rate. I didn't realise until someone mentioned it - I just looked at it as scoring three in three. But I've got seven in 12 starts and I'm delighted with that.

"It's as good a record as I've had in my career if you look back, so I'm delighted. It's early days and anything can happen, but I really want to keep it going."

The 30-year-old striker, whose career transfer fees total £12.75million, also feels his burgeoning partnership with Gifton Noel-Williams is paying early dividends.

They were denied the chance to operate as a twin-pronged strike force at Stoke City, where the former Potters team-mates scored regularly, but in separate spells leading the line.

And Akinbiyi, 30, credits Noel-Williams, who scored Burnley's first goal of the campaign at Crewe, with much of the credit for his early goal glut.

He explained: "I think I'm getting more chances than I've ever done, probably because I'm playing up front with Gifton and he knows my game.

"Gifton has been terrific. He's playing further forward with me, whereas at Stoke he was dropping in the hole all the time.

"This is the first time we've ever done that together and hopefully it can continue.

"Everyone knows Gifton is not blessed with pace but he's good at things that I'm not, holding the ball up and other things, so it's it's working well.

"We talk about targets every day and we're looking to get about 40 goals between us. If we can do that, I think it would be a good achievement. "

Meanwhile, Burnley have been allocated 3,343 seats for the all-ticket Championship clash away to Preston North End on Tuesday, September 13. Tickets, priced at £18 (adults), £12 (senior citizens and 16-18 year-olds) and £6.50 (U16s), are now on sale to season ticket holders, Foundation members and shareholders.

Any remaining tickets will go on sale to the general public on August 30.