BURNLEY striker Ade Akinbiyi is ready to push himself through the toughest pre-season of his career to hit the ground running come August.

Akinbiyi believes that supporters are yet to see him in full flow after arriving at Turf Moor in February carrying a niggling injury.

The former Stoke City striker, who suffered an injury-dogged 2005, finally battled back to end the last season on a high note with four goals in nine starts.

And with a restful few weeks behind him, Akinbiyi is now picking up the pace and aiming to be in the peak of fitness by the time the Clarets return for training on July 1.

He said: "Obviously, it's going to be my first pre-season here and I'm looking forward to it. I've been going for the odd run and there is still an awful lot of hard work to come, but I think I need that after last season and if this pre-season is my toughest yet, I won't be complaining.

"I don't think Burnley fans saw the best of me because of the injury I picked up at Stoke, but that's all behind me now and I finished the season pretty well.

"There is a lot of hard work to come, but I'm the sort of person who has a good rest and then gets into it and I'm ready.

"I've been doing pre-season for years so I know what it's all about. It is hard work, but it has to be because you need to be mega fit for the first game