FORMER Clarets striker Ade Akinbiyi has backed Andre Gray to live up to his £6million pricetag, and is confident being a club record transfer will not be a burden to the Burnley new boy.

Gray scored 18 goals in his first Championship season, after being plucked from then non-league Luton for over £500,000.

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And Akinbiyi, who has known the forward since he was an eight-year-old at Wolverhampton Wanderers, believes he is capable of at least replicating that form under the right manager.

“He is young and he can improve,” said Akinbiyi of the 24-year-old.

“The way I see it he will only improve with a manager who looks after him, and I think Sean Dyche is that man.

“Andre is raw but he is strong, has pace, and he is a very hungry player.

“Another good thing about him is that he is versatile.

“He will work his socks off.

“If the manager plays him on the left or the right or up front he will do it.

“And I don’t think the pricetag will bother him.

“He has got good people talking to him and guiding him.

“Whether he goes through good times or bad times he has got the backing of people to help him through that process.”

Gray was released from the Wolves academy at the age of 13 but was taken on by Shrewsbury, where he signed his first professional contract before the start of the 2009/10 season.

He made his debut as a last-minute substitute on the opening day, but was limited to five second half cameo appearances in League Two and went on to have loan spells with AFC Telford and Hinckley United, which led to a permanent move to the Conference North club.

Gray moved to Luton on loan in March 2012, signing full-time the day after their Conference Premier play-off final loss to York City and went on to fire the Hatters back into the Football League in 2014 with 30 goals in 45 games, winning the division’s Golden Boot and a transfer to Brentford.

Gray’s story is similar to that of Danny Ings and Charlie Austin, who both had spells in non-league before earning their big break.

And like the former Burnley duo, Akinbiyi believes the 24-year-old can make it all the way to the top.

“He was at Wolves as a young boy and he wanted to make it but he had to go through the non-league process,” he said.

“In a way it’s a good thing that happened to him. He has learned all the way through.

“He has had a tough time but I think that’s made him a better person and a better player.

“He did really well at Luton and Brentford and I think he will do well for Burnley.

“I knew he would get to the top, it’s just a matter of time.”