DEAN Marney knows it will be tough for Burnley in the top flight, but has told the Clarets can take encouragement from his old club, Hull City.

The Tigers thrived on their return to the Premier League after three years back in the Championship.

Following promotion as runners-up to Cardiff City they managed to succeed where the Bluebirds failed by surviving the drop.

Steve Bruce’s side finished four points above the relegation zone with a 16th placed finished, and added to their achievements by also qualifying for the Europa League as FA Cup runners-up, proving that not all promoted teams face a struggle and immediate return to the Championship.

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Burnley managed just one season in the Premier League after going up via the play-offs in 2009.

But after achieving automatic promotion last season, Marney hopes the Clarets can follow in the Tigers’ footsteps second time around.

“I know a few people at Hull still and they’ve spent a lot of money, but hopefully we can do as well as they have,” said the 30-year-old, who spent four years with Hull, including two seasons in the Premier League from 2008.

He was released after they were relegated, along with Burnley, in 2010, leading to his Turf Moor move.

And he insists he will be prepared for top flight football again.

“We go up another level so it’s obviously going to be a lot tougher, but I’ll work as hard as I can and see what happens,” he said.

“Obviously it’s been a great season (for Burnley), but it’s all done now so we’ll look forward to next season.”

Although Burnley boss Sean Dyche has been given a budget to strengthen his squad for the Premier League, it is unlikely the Clarets will spend as big as Hull did last summer.

The Tigers shelled out £6.5million on signing Nikica Jelavic from Everton last summer and £5million on Tom Huddlestone from Spurs, among others.

But Marney says what they may lack in comparison in terms of finance, they will make up for in hard graft.

The midfielder expects Burnley to be put through their paces again this summer, after admitting a gruelling pre-season was a big factor in their success last term.

Marney earned praise for his energetic box-to-box performances in the Clarets’ drive for the Premier League, with boss Dyche commending him for the form in which he reported back to Gawthorpe.

By the end of the season Dyche described how the former Spurs midfield man’s fitness and form had gone on to another level, saying: “He came in the first day of pre-season looking like a Rolls-Royce and never looked back. Maybe he’s turned into a Bentley Continental.”

Marney replied: “I take that as a compliment,” adding that the Burnley boss inspired the enhancements.

He had set his own summer fitness agenda, but he credited Dyche’s drills for setting him and his Turf Moor team-mates up for a promotion push.

“Last summer I worked harder than I ever have done coming into pre-season, I came back in as good shape as I possibly could, and the gaffer’s pre-season was tough, which made me fitter,” said Marney, who noticed a positive impact on his game as a result.

“I’ve maybe had more freedom, and the gaffer gave me more confidence. I owe a lot to him, and I was happy with how it (the season) went.”