NEW signing Besart Berisha was due to land on English soil today after getting the go ahead to become a Burnley player.
The former FC Hamburg youngster made arrangements to make the journey from his home in Germany to East Lancashire as soon as he heard the positive outcome of Friday's work permit hearing.
And the Albanian international, who has been signed up on a three-year deal for £340,000, will have a brief bedding-in period, before taking part in his first Clarets pre-season training session when the squad returns on Wednesday.
Berisha has had a shorter holiday than the rest of his new team-mates, with the Bundesliga season not ending until May 19, while at the end of the month he featured in the international friendly against England B at Turf Moor, in which he scored his first goal for Albania - a consolation in their 3-1 defeat.
But his agent, Henner Janzen, insists that the wideman, who celebrates his birthday at the end of this month, has no wish for a longer break.
"He is raring to go," said Janzen.
"He is looking forward to getting started and looking forward to the team's first friendly (against Accrington Stanley) in less than two weeks."
Berisha, who will team up with fellow new signing, goalkeeper Gabor Kiraly, on Wednesday, isn't the only player who manager Steve Cotterill expects to arrive for pre-season training in tip top shape.
Each player was given a close-season training programme at the end of last team, specifically to their needs, in an effort to keep on top of their fitness over the summer.
"Their summer programme isn't about upping their fitness, it's about maintaining a certain level of fitness," Cotterill said.
"Players like Kyle Lafferty don't need to up their fitness, but his programme would be to up his strength.
"Certain players have got different programmes. They are all individual and designed to help them."
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