BURNLEY have sent a message to the rest of the Premier League after their fearless Stamford Bridge display, according to Sam Vokes.

The Welshman came off the bench to help the Clarets get back in the game in West London, but now insists they have to use that result as a ‘stepping stone’ to securing Premier League survival in 12 games time.

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The 25-year-old was making his sixth substitute appearance of the season after returning from a cruciate knee ligament injury against Liverpool on Boxing Day, and said that nobody at the club was willing to give up on their Premier League dream.

Burnley are 18th with a dozen games to go, and are only in the drop zone by one goal as they prepare to welcome to Swansea to Turf Moor this weekend.

"It goes all the way back to Christmas time when we got a point away at City,” he said. “These performances are massive for us but we know it's only a stepping stone.

“We need to follow them up over the next few games that we've got.

"They are tough games when you look at them on paper but we came here with no fear and we've shown what we're all about to the rest of the league.

"The Premier League is massive for us, massive for the club and everybody else involved. We'll be fighting all the way until the end of the season to make sure we stay in it.”

Vokes, who has one goal to his name this term, was on the pitch when Ben Mee headed in the equaliser at Chelsea.

Adept in the air himself, he was full of praise for his team-mates jump for his second headed goal in the space of five games.

"We showed great character and it was a great header from Ben Mee,” he said. “It's the second time he's done that this season so it shows what a threat he is in the air. It's massive that we've got that in our armoury as well.

"I wouldn't mind one dropping on my head. It was brilliant as was the one he scored a few weeks ago. It's good that we're getting goals from all sorts of positions at the moment.”

Vokes scored 21 games in 44 games last season before his campaign ended on March 29 when he suffered his knee injury.

His partnership with Danny Ings had been crucial in getting Burnley into position for promotion to the Premier League, but they have yet to start a game together this term.

Vokes has made seven league and cup appearances off the bench, and started alongside Marvin Sordell in the FA Cup replay defeat at White Hart Lane.

He’s watched as Ashley Barnes has established himself in the starting line-up in his absence, but is pleased to be able to provide competition for places over the final few months of the season.

"It is hard because the two up front have been performing very well,” he said. “For me it's just about getting my head down after the injury, getting my fitness back and taking my chance when it comes.

"There's great competition. The big thing for me was getting fit and getting involved in that competition and it's something I'm working on to get back in the team.

"Competition is massive in any position. If you have players fighting for positions then it can only be good for the team."