TYRONE Mears believes Burnley can take advantage of the fact that few across the country are tipping them for promotion during 2011/12.

The Clarets finished eighth in the Championship in their first season following relegation from the top flight and with some bookmakers they are now as low as 12th on the list for promotion next season – alongside the likes of Brighton and Southampton.

But Mears retains the confidence that Burnley’s squad is good enough to go up and hopes a season without the upheaval of a change of manager could see them return to the Premier League.

“We’ve got a good squad here, on paper as well,” said the full back.

“I think we’re looked at negatively, certainly in the media.

“No-one really looks at us as achieving anything, but we’ve got to take that as a plus.

“The teams that have come down, West Ham, they’ll be the favourites.

“Middlesbrough didn’t have a good season and there are a lot of good clubs in this league.

“But we’re going to be quietly confident that we can achieve success.”

Burnley were never able to take the Championship by the scruff of the neck during 2010/11 and saw Eddie Howe replace Brian Laws as boss as the turn of the year.

Twenty points from Howe’s first nine games in charge put the Clarets in real contention for a play-off place but that was followed by five defeats in their next six matches, which ultimately left them with too much to do in the final month of the campaign.

“There were changes last season, a manager coming in, a manager going and it’s always difficult for a team,” said Mears.

“I think we improved certainly in the second half of the season.

“Towards the end I think players fatigued a little bit.

“We have got a small squad compared to a lot of Championship clubs, so I think the gaffer will be looking at that looking to add to that and hopefully we can push all the way to the end.”

Burnley are yet to bring in any new faces this summer, but Mears has faith that Howe (pictured right) will have signings on board by the time the season starts at home to Watford on August 6.

“I’m sure there will be,” said the 28-year-old.

“You always have to improve your squad unless you’re Barcelona and you’ve won the Champions League, although I’m sure they’ll improve as well.

“The gaffer I’m sure will be looking to improve because we set out to get promoted and we didn’t achieve that.

“It will be the same again and he will be adding.

“It’s always slow in the summer but in pre-season managers get to see what they’ve got and how they can improve, and I’m sure there will be players coming in.”

Mears was among those who returned to pre-season training last week and has greater ambitions than just retaining his place at right back, having started 44 of Burnley’s 46 league matches last term.

“It’s not about playing every game, you’ve got to obviously try and play well in every game and I hope I’ve done that,” he said.

“Whatever else I can improve in my game – there are loads of things – I’ll be trying to do that this season.

“The most important thing in pre-season is not to get injured, I think that’s what players really look out for – any little niggles or if you’re pushing yourself too much.

“The most important thing is that everyone’s fit for the first game.”