BURNLEY have agreed a deal for Preston North End defender Graham Alexander.

The 35-year-old has signed a two-year contract with the Clarets, for an initial payment of £100,000, rising to £200,000 at the end of the season.

Alexander, who has been called up for international duty, passed a medical and agreed medical terms this afternoon.

He will meet up with the Scotland squad after the weekend in preparation for their match against Lithuania at Hampden next weekend, followed by a trip to Paris to play France four days later.

Manager Steve Cotterill is delighted to have another experienced defender in his ranks.

"He's obviously a right back. We've been looking around for one of them and we've probably got one who's ended up being the best one in the Championship for the last eight years maybe.

"It might even be longer than that," the Clarets boss added.

"It will be a contract for this year and next.

"We've got to pay an initial £100,000 now, and £100,000 at the end of the season, which, if you look what's in and around and out there, it's probably a good deal for Preston, but we've happened to do a few good deals for ourselves.

"For a 35-year-old, when you look at it, £200,000 is quite a bit fee, but that's probably credit to Graham.

"I think he's a very good, experienced professional who looks after himself impeccably well. He's a fit lad, still playing international football."

And while Cotterill ticked the right back box, Alexander's versatility was also a factor in his decision to make an offer.

"He's played in central midfield before, which may be a possibility for us," he said.

"I need to have a chat with him about that, but that may be a possibility for us, depending on injuries, suspensions, fitness, form and who we're playing against.

"Graham's a very good footballer, a good leader, so there is an opportunity he could play in the midfield slot at Colchester, but we'll wait and see on that.

"We're a little bit up and down in there at the moment, and maybe he could give us a bit of experience in there.

"He played a few games in midfield for Billy Davies, and he understands the game, his angles are right, his passing's right.

"How we play, we can sometimes be a bit open in there, and his experience might stand us in the right areas.

"It might not be all the time, it might just be certain games."