FORMER Claret Frank Sinclair believes Burnley's target next season has to be Premier League survival, despite their top-seven finish this term.

Sean Dyche's side 'massively surpassed' expectations this season, according to Sinclair, earning European football next term.

But the 46-year-old doesn't expect the season of success to inflate expectations around Turf Moor, with fans and board keeping their feet on the ground.

And rather than targetting a repeat of last season's heroics Sinclair believes staying up for a third successive season must be the primary target.

"The club and manager are in a great position, as they massively surpassed what their expectation of the season was at the beginning of the season," said the former Burnley defender.

"With success, there will always come greater expectations, but I think the owners will be sensible and see what Dyche has achieved with his time at the club before expecting too much.

"Burnley’s overall stats weren’t great, with games being very tight week in week out. On another season, certain results may have gone against them, and it could have cost them 10 points, which leaves the club in a completely different position.

"I think first and foremost, the expectations of Burnley are to remain in the Premier League, with anything else being a bonus."

Burnley's seventh place finish means they will enter the Europa League at the second qualifying round, with the ties taking place on July 26 and August 2.

There are three qualifying rounds to navigate before entering the group stage and Sinclair believes the squad will need strengthening, with a striker a key priority.

"The hurdle the club now has is playing in the Europa League," Sinclair told sportingbet.com. "I’m sure they’ll try and strengthen the squad in the transfer market, but I don’t know how much they’ll be able to do so with the funds that are available.

"Burnley don’t have the squad to compete in the league and in Europe, and I think Sean Dyche knows that."

"Burnley’s starting 11 is not bad, but I think they need to get another goal scorer in to help Ashley Barnes, who’s has an excellent season.

"I think Ashley Barnes was one of the most improved players in the Premier League last season, from where he was the season before."