A HAT-TRICK of deadline day signings should set us up for the first half of the season.

The manager did well to land George Boyd in a club-equal record swoop from Hull City, Nathaniel Chalobah on loan from Chelsea, and then a late, late loan move for Manchester United’s Michael Keane.

The result against United on Saturday had filled me with confidence that we can have a decent season anyway, but with the extra additions I feel we have recruited well and have sufficient cover and competition in all positions going forward.

There is a long way to go, and while we only have one point from our tough start, with the way we have played and handled things I’m confident we won’t struggle at this level like we did in 2009/10.

I was certainly impressed with how we shaped up against Manchester United.

Man of the match was Scott Arfield, who cost nothing from Huddersfield and made Angel di Maria – the £59.7million signing – look like a little boy lost.

The big stars were brought down to earth as Sean Dyche’s team more than matched that of his counterpart Louis van Gaal, from start to finish, and could have come away with three points.

To do that, we have to start scoring goals.

I’m sure that Danny Ings just needs one to spark him off. But he isn’t getting the chances like he did in the Championship. That’s what happens when you play at the top level.

Even many moons ago when I was playing, Ray Benyon used to tell me of the difference between the divisions, and when you get to the top one, you do notice it.

In the old First Division the defence would open and shut so quickly you had to take your chances whenever they came along, and while so much else has changed in the game, it is still the same way now.

Danny will be a success in the Premier League, but the onus must not be put on him and the players around him are going to have to start providing more.

Hopefully the new signings, particularly Boyd, will help in that department.

Going back to Saturday’s home game with United, I was delighted to meet up again with my old foe Paddy Crerand, who is a legend at Old Trafford.

He said Burnley were looking good and wouldn’t have any problems in staying up, and wished them all the best.