PETER Crouch admits he has been pleasantly surprised by the quality in Burnley's strikeforce.

The 38-year-old, a deadline day signing from Stoke City, has made three cameo appearances off the bench since joining the club.

The form of Chris Wood and Ashley Barnes, who have 13 goals between them since Boxing Day, has meant that Crouch has had to bide his time.

But the former Liverpool man, who returns to Anfield with the Clarets this weekend, has no qualms about being behind the firing front pair in the pecking order.

Indeed the veteran striker has been impressed with Wood and Barnes, in training and in matches.

"Those two have been really good and I know my role," said Crouch.

"They have been first class since I came in and I have been surprised by just how good they are.

"I've been so impressed with both of them. I really think they're two very good players and I've been very impressed with the amount of goals they've scored, the work that they get through, their hold up play. I've certainly been impressed with both of them."

Crouch is still waiting for his first Burnley start and goal but is enjoying life at Turf Moor.

"I have loved it, the lads have been first class," he added.

"Training has been spot on and there is a lot of quality. People talk about Burnley being strong and difficult to play against but there is a lot of quality in the group as well.

"My fitness is great, I am training everyday, loving the sessions and it is a good group to be a part of and I am really enjoying it.

"All I can do is make an impact from the bench. I've been involved in a few incidents as a substitute but the biggest impact is scoring a goal, if not it's creating chances and being involved. I've done that when I've come on.

Crouch nearly broke his Burnley duck in the closing minutes of Saturday's defeat to Crystal Palace but Wayne Hennessey gloved the effort behind.

"I didn’t quite catch it but it was in the corner so it was a good save but it would have been nice to score," said Crouch who came on for the final 10 minutes with the Clarets three down. Ashley Barnes reduced the arrears late on but Sean Dyche's side couldn't get back into the game.

"We kept going, it was disappointing," said Crouch of Burnley's second successive defeat.

"The goals were disappointing. Since I have been here it has all been plusses. I think in the last 15 minutes we gave it a right go and if we had a bit longer we would have maybe turned it round."