BURNLEY matchwinner Marvin Sordell hailed the strength in depth of the Clarets squad after his strike secured a 1-0 friendly win over Blackpool on Saturday.

The former Watford man is one of five strikers at Turf Moor and is currently battling with fellow new arrival Lukas Jutkiewicz and Ashley Barnes for the right to start alongside Danny Ings in the opening day fixture with Chelsea.

And with Welsh international Sam Vokes still to return to the squad from his cruciate ligament injury Sordell believes the Clarets have the firepower to compete in the top-flight.

“There’s a lot of competition in the squad in general really and it’s good for the team,” said Sordell.

“I think last season and how they did is because of the amount of competition there was so the standard of training rises.

“It helps the players who are playing as well as the players who are not playing. Everyone is consistently improving and we want to carry that on this season “You’ve got to make sure that you’re ready for when that opportunity comes.”