Grezza pleased with Burnley's new boys (From This Is Lancashire)

Grezza pleased with Burnley's new boys

10:50am Thursday 2nd July 2009 in

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GRAHAM Alexander believes manager Owen Coyle has brought the right men in to lead Burnley’s Premier League charge.

Before David Edgar became the Clarets’ third summer signing yesterday, Coyle smashed the club transfer record to snap up Steven Fletcher from Hibernian for £3million on Tuesday – just hours after making former Marseille loan defender Tyrone Mears his first signing since winning promotion.

Alexander has worked with both Fletcher and Mears, partnering Mears at full back for Preston, while Fletcher was introduced into the senior Scotland squad in March last year. And he is confident the pair will have a good impact at Turf Moor.

“I know Tyrone very well and spoke to the gaffer last week about him,” said the 37-year-old, who himself signed a new 12-month contract last week.

“He was a fantastic player for Preston in the year before he left to go to West Ham United and did very well playing at right back.

“He has unbelievable pace and is a quality player. We were rivals for the same position at Preston. When he was playing right back, I was at left back.

“I’ve not spoken to him for a while, but I’ll welcome him (today) when we go back to training and it will be good to see an old face.

“Steven Fletcher’s another good young player to add to the squad and a great finisher.

“I’ve trained with him for Scotland over the last year or so and he’ll provide the competition that we’ll need.

“We probably worked with an 18 to 19-man squad last season, so we need to add to that.”

Fletcher cost double what Burnley shelled out to sign Martin Paterson from Scunthorpe and Chris Eagles from Manchester United last summer. But Alexander believes the striker, who has been a target for both Celtic and Real Madrid, provides value for money.

“He’s proved himself in the Hibs first team and scored goals in the Scottish Premier League. I think he was ready for a move away from Hibs to have a new challenge,” said the defensive midfielder.

“Having listened to him and read what he’s had to say in interviews while we’ve been away with Scotland, I think he’s a hungry young player.

“I think he is ready to test himself in a different environment.

“It will be different coming south, but he’s a player who has got a drive within himself to better himself.

"When the gaffer looks for players I think he looks for people with that hunger who want to achieve things.

“We had that last year so anyone who comes into it is going to be similar.

“You’ve got to be willing to work hard for your team-mates, coupled with ability.”