OWEN Coyle has only been in charge of Burnley for just over a week, but he admits he is already fully aware of how tough the Championship is.

The new Clarets manager is unbeaten going into today's game at Charlton Athletic, after drawing at home to Stoke City last weekend before toppling leaders Watford in midweek.

Four points from a possible six has put Burnley three points off the play-offs with a game in hand.

But, a third of the way into the season with only a few points proving the difference between the top half and bottom half of the table, Coyle knows nothing can be taken for granted at this stage.

"I think that's why it's such an interesting league because everyone will feel they are capable of being there or thereabouts and we're no different," the Burnley boss said.

"You have to be positive in your outlook and look as far as you can go.

"We'll work hard and we'll go and try to win game by game and then come the end of the season we'll see where that takes us.

"It would be remiss of anybody, I think, to get too carried away and start making claims about this or that. All I can say is that we'll go from game to game and go and try to win matches.

"I think we merited all six points (from the two games), but as it is four's a pleasing start - but that's all it is. We have to build on that and continue to work hard.

"They don't get any easier with Watford away and now Charlton away, but we'll be looking forward to it. We'll go there and try to be positive and I'm pretty sure the lads will take a lot of confidence from their two performances."

He added: "Two games in it's certainly a very high standard and there are some very good teams in the Championship.

"I think there's an awful lot of quality, and that's been borne out by the two games I've seen, and that will continue to be. But we have to make sure the quality we've got, we're showing on a game-to-game basis.

"I always felt as a player that you set your standards, and it's important then that you try to reach them. It's not always possible to attain them week in, week out, but it should never ever stop you from striving to show our consistency week in, week out, and if we do that then that augurs well."

With two consecutive trips to the capital in the space of five days, Coyle's training ground time has been limited. And with a congested programme in the run-up to Christmas and the New Year, the former St Johnstone boss is exercising caution with his players.

"That's the way it's going to be in the next few weeks because it's Saturday-Tuesday, Saturday-Tuesday, and it's important as well that we don't overwork the players because we need them fresh to come out of the traps on Saturday really lively and that's what we'll look to do," he said.

"Sometimes you come in and you want to go and work with players on the training ground but when you've got the games you've got to temper that and make sure, come the Saturday, that they're ready to go.

"The biggest thing is that they've worked really hard and been receptive to what we've had to say. We just need to keep that going. We're trying to build a tight-knit unit - it's not going to happen overnight but we're certainly showing a lot of promising signs.

"But that's all it is. It will be a long, long journey and we just have to keep doing our best for Burnley."