JOEY Barton will be aiming for more than just survival in the Premier League if he remains with the Clarets next season.

The 33-year-old is yet to sign a new deal to stay at Turf Moor for Burnley’s return to the top flight, but he insists targets should be set high 2016-17.

MORE TOP STORIES:

Barton was influential in this season’s Championship-winning side and talks have been ongoing about a new contract for the midfielder,.

Yesterday he reiterated that he was keen to stay ‘for a longer period’. His experience could be vital in the Premier League, with more than 250 appearances at that level under his belt.

And while he will enjoy celebrating promotion Barton’s mind is already thinking about top flight football.

“We’ve got to enjoy this because it’s been a collective effort,” he said of promotion. “The powers that be and the gaffer will have one eye on knowing what he needs to do stay there.

“That’s the goal, certainly while I’m in there I’ll be driving a lot harder than for a 15th or 16th placed finish, that’s not what it’s about.

“Go up there and give it your best shot and if you fall short you fall short. They did that first time around and that’s shown this season because the team was able to use that initiative to bounce back.

“Statistics are against teams bouncing back at the first attempt so we’re ahead of the curve.”

Burnley’s resilience has been to the fore this season, particularly during their post-War club record of 23 games unbeaten, with injury time equalisers against Brighton and Middlesbrough proving vital in the promotion race, and Barton believes that asset could be crucial next season.

“It serves you well in any league,” he said of the spirit and never say die approach. “A team that never knows when it’s beaten can survive anywhere.

“The atmosphere and the attitude of that team, that refusal to yield takes you a long way in any sport, this team has got it and we have to protect that very carefully, you can’t buy that.”

Barton also backed the Clarets to get recruitment right ahead of them Premier League.

“The reality is there will always be the inevitable ins and outs like there is at every football club,” he added. “Burnley have a really good record of recruitment, you would back the history of the club investing the money wisely, but that’s all for another day.”

Meanwhile Clarets goalkeeper Matt Gilks has been linked with a move to Hearts in Scotland.

The 33-year-old is now third choice goalkeeper at Turf Moor after the arrival of Paul Robinson earlier this year.

Gilks is out of contract this summer and is widely expected to leave Burnley after two seasons at the club.