STEVE Cotterill believes Ade Akinbiyi is looking a different player to the one struggling for sharpness at the end of last season.

The 32-year-old striker is hoping to roll back the years in a Clarets shirt when the new Cham-pionship campaign begins next month.

Following his £750,000 move back to Turf Moor in January, less than 12 months after leaving Burnley for Sheffield United, Akinbiyi was short of match-fitness.

Back then, Clarets boss Cotterill said the Hackney-born forward had spent too much time in the Blades weight room and had become muscle-bound.

But Akinbiyi has already shown in pre-season that he is back to his sprightly best as he looks to re-discover the form of his first goal-laden spell at Burnley, when he racked up 16 league goals in 38 starts.

He netted the first of two penalties awarded to the Clarets in the second-half of their 5-2 victory over Wrexham on Tuesday night and will look to hit the scoresheet again in tomorrow's friendly at home to Premiership side Middlesbrough.

However, Cotterill had seen enough evidence to a more leaner Akinbiyi in Burnley's opening friendly against Accrington Stanley.

Commenting on Akinbiyi's performance at the Fraser Eagle Stadium, Cotterill said: "We knew there was going to be a sufferance with Ade.

"But if you have a look at him now, already in a short space of time - 45 minutes and a cameo appearance in the second-half - he already looks a different player to the one we saw at the end of last season.

"That's all credit to him and the work he's done. I know that strikers have to be loved by supporters and I think they would have gone home thinking Ade has come back a bit fitter and a bit sharper.

"That's only good news for everybody in the dressing room."

After being out of favour at previous club Sheffield United, Akinbiyi had lost much of his match fitness by the time he arrived at Turf Moor for his second spell.

To try and inject more running in his legs, Cotterill banned the former Wolves, Leicester and Crystal Palace man from the weight room.

At the time, he said: "With his shirt off, Ade looks more like he could go and fight for the heavyweight title of the world, rather than be running round a football pitch.

"He's done too many weights and not enough running. It has taken a yard out of him. If I see him in the weight room, I'm going to fine him."

Akinbiyi is one of five first-team strikers vying for selection when Burnley's Championship season begins at home to West Brom on August 11.

Competition for places is fierce with Andy Gray, Kyle Lafferty and Robbie Blake members of the frontline pack, while teenager Jay Rogriguez has shown promise in pre-season.