LOWTON KNOWS WHAT IT TAKES

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Experienced defender happy with build-up as Clarets look to keep momentum building

2021-08-02T19:18:54.070Z

LOWTON KNOWS WHAT IT TAKES

Experienced defender happy with build-up as Clarets look to keep momentum building

2021-08-02T19:18:54.070Z

Experienced defender happy with build-up as Clarets look to keep momentum building

Matt Lowton is preparing to enter his seventh consecutive season with the Clarets – and sixth in the Premier League – and knows exactly what is required in the build-up to any new campaign, writes Ben Olawumi.

After Saturday’s 2-1 victory at Tranmere Rovers in a behind-closed-doors friendly, Sean Dyche’s side has now won all five of their warm-up matches – including their training-ground double-header to kick things off.

Ashley Barnes’ diving header levelled things up at Prenton Park before Dwight McNeil’s strike from distance secured the win, adding to earlier victories over Salford City, Morecambe, Oldham and Blackpool.

And while positive results against lower league opposition don’t provide too much of a pointer at this stage, Lowton is pleased with what he and his teammates have produced.

“Pre-season has been very good so far. The lads came back fit, and we’ve had a good first few weeks,” said the Clarets’ right-back, who has started the last two fixtures to top up his game time.

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“It’s always very tough, we know that, but our big thing is running hard and running long. Our running is the key to our performances, so we made sure that in the first two weeks, we got the hard yards in.

“Now, it’s about getting match sharpness. We’ll work hard again this week with an emphasis on lads getting those key yards in games again and it’s all about getting time in the legs ready for the first game of the season.”

And when the Premier League campaign does get underway against Brighton on Saturday-week, Lowton already knows what one his personal aims for the season will be.

The Clarets’ man – who scored the Clarets’ goal of the season in 2020/21 and almost got on the scoresheet at Tranmere – added: “I want to get involved more often higher up the pitch.

“We’ve got a very good defensive unit, starting from the front all the way through the team, so I just want to start chipping in with a few more assists and goals to help the team out.”

The Clarets face a further two pre-season matches, with a mid-week behind-closed-doors work-out and an international friendly as Spanish top-flight side Cádiz come to Turf Moor on Saturday.