MATT Lowton has hailed Burnley’s team spirit as ‘off the scale’ as he targets a strong Clarets push in the Premier League next season.

After dropping out of the top division last summer following his £1million move from Aston Villa to Turf Moor, Lowton is now preparing for life back in the Premier League while his former side contemplate a season in the Championship after their relegation.

The 26-year-old had to wait for his chance in Sean Dyche’s side, eventually making the right-back slot his own from Tendayi Darikwa as Burnley stormed to the Championship title with a 23-game unbeaten run.

And the former Sheffield United man is in no doubt about the key strength in this Burnley side.

“I have honestly never seen a team spirit like it,” said Lowton. “From growing up in different teams, and obviously playing first team football, the team spirit is off the scale.

“The camaraderie as well between the manager, his staff, with the players. Everybody works for each other.

“You know that the lads have got your back and it’s some feeling to go in to Saturday knowing that everyone is pulling in the right direction.”

Lowton made 72 Premier League appearances with Aston Villa, scoring twice, and he is now relishing a return to the elite next season.

The Clarets have to wait until June 15 for the fixtures to be released and Lowton is looking forward to the chance to pencil in a few big games for next term.

“Everybody wants to play in the Premier League and we’ve achieved that,” he said. “It’s the middle of June when the fixtures come out so it will be interesting to see who we’ve got.

“I’m sure the lads will just be looking forward to getting back for pre-season and getting ready to play against the best players in the country.”

Lowton now wants to see Burnley follow in the footsteps of the likes of Bournemouth and Watford, who won promotion to the Premier League from the Championship a year ago and survived comfortably in the top flight.

“The teams that have gone up recently haven’t just stayed up, they’ve pushed up the league. There’s no reason why we can’t do the same.” he said.

Burnley’s immediate return to the Premier League was underpinned by that unbeaten run across the second half of the season.

Victory at Charlton on the final day, as well as securing the title, made it a post-War club record run and Lowton believes the entire squad deserve credit.

“It’s testament to the squad and everyone who has played a part,” he said. “We hang in there right until the end, we’ve got a few late goals and kept a lot of clean sheets to win 1-0.

“It’s a great squad that’s been put together.”