BURNLEY’S record signing Jeff Hendrick is determined to prove his worth to the Clarets after revealing he sees his £10million price tag as a compliment.

The 24-year-old completed his move to Turf Moor from Derby County on deadline day after a summer-long pursuit for his services.

He started on the bench against Hull City on Saturday having only linked up with his teammates on Thursday after spending the international break with the Republic of Ireland, but he came on with 15 minutes to go for the first Premier League appearance of his career.

Hendrick replaced Steven Defour, with the Belgian’s honour of being Burnley’s transfer record signing lasting for just 15 days, and the Clarets new record buy is now keen to rise to the challenge and force his way into the starting XI.

“I think I’ve got to take it as a compliment really,” he said. “The club were willing to pay that and know I’ve got to show that I’m worth it, I’ve got to put performances in every week and that’s the challenge for me. I look forward to it.

“I’ve had two good days training with the lads and managed to make my first Premier League appearance.

“I’ll knuckle down come Monday and start working hard again. If I get selected I’m going to make sure I’m ready to keep the spot.”

Burnley made their first moves for Hendrick early in the summer but as with so many transfers in this window it was only in the final day or two that the deal started to take shape.

But the Ireland international said the protracted negotiations between the two clubs hadn’t caused him any distractions this summer.

“When I was at Derby I was training and playing and I could see this was here,” he said. “The manager at Derby was fine with me, we had a chat about it and we discussed what was going on in the background. The main thing for me was to keep playing with Derby and get my fitness in case anything came along and I’d be ready.”

Hendrick, an alumni of the Dublin club St Kevin’s Boys, put himself in the shop window with some fine performances for his national side during Euro 2016, and once he knew of Burnley’s interest he never had any hesitation about making the move to Turf Moor.

“Not at all,” he said. “It’s Premier League football. They did so well last year, they were top of the league and went on a great unbeaten run at the end. 

“It’s a hard working team. I heard the group was great as well and everyone I talked too about the manager had praise for him so why wouldn’t I take the opportunity?”

Hendrick flew in from Dublin to complete his Burnley move on deadline day and then immediately jetted back across the Irish Sea, playing 45 minutes for Martin O’Neill’s side in a friendly against Oman that night.

On Monday he scored his first international goal in the 2-2 World Cup qualifying draw in Serbia and admitted it had been a ‘crazy’ few days.

But his Burnley debut didn’t go to plan, with Robert Snodgrass’ 95th minute free-kick denying the Clarets all three points at Turf Moor.

“It is a kick in the teeth but that’s football,” said Hendrick. “You think you’ve seen the game out and it’s a bit of quality from Snodgrass, it’s a great finish. 

“The lads worked hard, they had a few chances in the first half but we grew into the game and got the lead and it looked like we were going to hold on to it. It’s unfortunate but that’s football.”