Pre-season starts at Gigg

Last updated : 10 July 2010 By Tony Scholes

Four from the starting eleven against Spurs are gone, Scottish internationals Steven Caldwell and Steven Fletcher along with loan players Jack Cork and David Nugent.

Caldwell was one of the players released at the end of last season, Fletcher has moved to Wolves in a transfer that is thought to have netted the Clarets £7.5 million; Cork and Nugent have returned to their parent clubs Chelsea and Portsmouth.

Three of the substitutes that day have also moved on. Unused subs Nicky Weaver and Stephen Jordan were both released and the most notable departure of all from Turf Moor this summer was that of Robbie Blake who opted for a move to Bolton.

Otherwise, and despite all the speculation, all the others are still here. Tyrone Mears and Chris Eagles haven't gone, neither has Andre Bikey, and Wade Elliott is still a Claret about to go into his sixth season at Turf Moor since signing from Bournemouth.

Not as though the main attention from the stands will be in the direction of those players. That will be reserved for our three new signings, all of whom will feature this afternoon.

Midfielder Dean Marney was the first signing. He's moved from Hull after four years on Humberside. Chris Iwelumo was next. The much travelled striker has already made a big impact in the dressing room after arriving from Wolves.

The third, and last, signing to date was that of Ross Wallace from Preston. It's just a week since he signed. He's the most expensive signing so far this summer and it is reported that the fee for him will reach £1 million.

It is going to be an afternoon of changes with manager Brian Laws ready to give some playing time to a number of his squad in this pre-season opener. "The main crux of the squad will be involved," Laws said yesterday.

"Because we have got two games in a short space of time we are looking to give the players at least a 45-60 minute run out. We are looking at a high turnover of players, but we have got that in abundance at the football club.

"We have got strength in every position so you will almost be seeing two teams, although we will be mixing them up."

He continued: "The message to everybody is don't read anything into any of the formations or the player selection because it will mean nothing.

"We are just trying to make sure we put two solid teams out on that particular day and go and win the game. The fitness is all important but psychologically going out and winning games is important to us as well."

Whilst the players will be using the game to gain extra fitness there is no doubt they will be trying to catch the manager's eye with their performances in the hope of being in that starting line up against Nottingham Forest in four weeks time.

"There is nobody who has a fixed position," Laws said. "Nobody is guaranteed a place on 7th August. Everyone is fighting for a place and there are going to be some interesting contests, no more so than in defence where we are really strong and where we have high numbers of good quality players.

"The fight is on for positions and they will all be looking to impress over pre-season."

Over at Bury, they are still getting over the disappointment of missing out on the League Two play offs last season. A real downturn in form cost them in the closing weeks after looking to have a very good chance of going up automatically.

Manager Alan Knill has added four players this summer and will also include a number of trialists in his side. Those new players are Peter Sweeney, Joe Skarz, Andy Haworth and Steven Schumacher.

Sweeney was the first of those signings, the much travelled former Millwall and Stoke midfielder moving from Grimsby. The midfielder was quickly joined by Huddersfield left back Skarz who had been voted the Football League's Apprentice of the Year in 2007.

There have been two more recent additions in Schumacher, the Crewe midfielder, and Howarth, a 21-year-old right winger from Blackburn.

All four will feature today as will the Bury trialists. Whilst Knill has been keeping their names a secret it has emerged that one of them is former Shaker Simon Whaley whilst it would be no surprise to see a former Claret amongst them.

Kick off today is 3:00 p.m. and Burnley fans without tickets can pay on the day.