FORMER Clarets star Brian Jensen hopes Burnley can take advantage of their home start in the Premier League but has warned: “It’s a marathon not a sprint.”

Jensen played every Premier League game in the 2009/10 season when Burnley finished 18th, just as they did under Sean Dyche two years ago.

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Confidence is high that they can go one better this time around and secure top flight survival, and they have been given the chance to get off to a good start with Swansea, Hull City and Watford the first visitors to Turf Moor at the moment, although the trip to Liverpool on the second weekend of the season could yet to be switched from Anfield.

Two years ago Dyche’s side had to wait until their 11th league game of the season to pick up their first Premier League victory, and while a better start would be welcomed this time around, Jensen doesn’t think it is absolutely essential.

“It is important to keep your confidence high but with the Premier League it’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon,” he said.

“To get off to a good start is always nice but you need to keep picking up points all season.”

In 09/10 Burnley picked up 26 points at home but their away form let them down. Two years ago the Clarets managed just 19 points in front of their own fans and Jensen, who played over 300 games for the club, believes Turf Moor form can be crucial once again.

“Home form can be key, it can keep the morale high and the lads confident if you’re getting results at Turf Moor, wins are crucial to that,” he said.

“But they have to remember it’s a long season, the only time the table matters is the last day of the season.”

Burnley bounced back to the Premier League at the first attempt last season despite the loss of captain Jason Shackell, right-back Kieran Trippier and top scorer Danny Ings, and Jensen believes they have a great chance to cement their top flight status this time.

“I think they’ve got a better chance than last time around,” he said. “They’ve kept the majority of the squad together and I’m sure they’re going to go out and buy some more players as well.

“They lost Kieran Trippier and Danny Ings but the lads that have come in have done really well, it’s a strong squad and if they add some more quality players to that squad then they’ve got a real chance.

“The gaffer has built a really tight squad and that is a big part of their success. They gel really well and all the new players who come in get into the rhythm quickly and they pick up the culture.

“I know the gaffer will get them really fit so that will never be an issue, it’s all about quality now and they need to add some more quality to the squad and increase the competition for places.

“They need to buy players who are ready for the first team straight away.”

Jensen eventually passed the gloves on to Tom Heaton at Burnley, via Lee Grant, and he is delighted to see the Clarets captain, currently away with England at Euro 2016, doing so well.

“Tom’s been brilliant, I can’t fault him at all, he’s been outstanding,” said Jensen, who recent signed a one-year contract extension at Mansfield Town.

“He’s grown massively. I had my doubts to start with, when he left Manchester United I wasn’t sure but he has done well.

“To grow into what he is now he has done really, really well, fair play to the guy.”