PRE-SEASON PREVIEW: BLACKPOOL V BURNLEY

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Midfield man Josh Brownhill is fully fitting in and ready for latest test

2021-07-27T09:08:34.168Z

PRE-SEASON PREVIEW: BLACKPOOL V BURNLEY

Midfield man Josh Brownhill is fully fitting in and ready for latest test

2021-07-27T09:08:34.168Z

Midfield man Josh Brownhill is fully fitting in and ready for latest test

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Josh Brownhill is enjoying his build-up to the new season after ‘earning his stripes’ in the Premier League.

Brownhill heads to Blackpool tonight (Tuesday) as part of the Clarets’ squad facing the Championship side in their second open pre-season friendly.

The midfielder helped Sean Dyche’s men beat Oldham 2-0 last Saturday as part of his second pre-season programme as a Burnley player.

And he admits this one has a different feel after getting a first full top-flight campaign under his belt in 2020/21.

“It's been tough, as always, but enjoyable as well,” said Brownhill, who started 32 times last season as the Clarets recovered from a poor start to comfortably maintain their Premier League status.

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“To come back in and to get fitness done in with the boys rather than at home makes a massive difference.

“It's a lot better when you are doing work with everyone around you. It's been really enjoyable.

“It's a little bit different when you come in after a full season in the Premier League.

“You start looking around and realise that you do fit in and you are an established player.

“You're not really new anymore. I have played a season-and-a-half now, so I'm getting more and more experience.

“It has a little bit of a different look when you come back in. I think you get even more respect of the lads and the senior pros.

“When you first come in it's whether you can do it or whether you can't and when you do a full season, which we did quite well in, then you look back and say you've probably earned your stripes a little bit more.”

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After joining the Clarets from Bristol City in January, 2020, Brownhill had to wait until after ‘project re-start’ in June, 2020 to earn a starting slot.

The 25-year-old hasn’t looked back since as an integral part of the Turf Moor set-up and is ready for another work-out against the newly-promoted Seasiders (KO 7.45pm).

“The quicker the games come the better now because when you've had that time off you just can't wait to get back and play football,” added Brownhill, who netted twice against Salford City in one of the Clarets' opening training-ground work-outs.

“They are there to get you fit and I'm excited for the game on Tuesday night.

“They will be a decent team who have just come into the Championship and will be on a high, as all teams are when they play Premier League sides.

“That’s where they want to be so they will want that challenge and we will just look to keep building and putting the performances in.”

The Clarets have sold out of their allocation of 1,000 tickets for the game at Bloomfield Road, which will welcome back fans for the first time in 18 months in Blackpool’s only home game of their pre-season schedule.

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Brownhill is delighted to see fans back and is relishing the prospect of full attendances in the Premier League when the season starts in the middle of next month.

“I’m excited about that,” said the midfield man whose only Premier League starts in front of supporters came in the Clarets’ two limited-capacity fixtures at the end of last season.

“As it is at the minute the fans are going to be there and we have got some good games coming up in the first few, which I'm really looking forward to.

“To see a packed-out turf Moor will be great, especially for me probably more than anybody else.”

Supporters can now pay on the gate at Bloomfield Road, using using turnstiles 18-21 with cash only from 6.15pm.