Our players have been back in pre-season training for two weeks but it is a similar looking squad of players who have been photographed at Gawthorpe, with one or two, as yet, still to be recognised.
Billy Mercer has seen a complete overhaul of his goalkeepers but that's just about it. Chris McCann and Martin Paterson have gone but, right now, that's it with no outfield additions.
It will be very interesting to see who does play tonight. Sean Dyche confirmed that there will be changes during the game which suggests we might be fielding potentially two different teams. If that's the case then there is going to have to be some delving into the development squad.
David Edgar won't be there. He's in America right now as a member of Canada's CONCACAF Gold Cup squad and it comes as no surprise that Charlie Austin won't be around tonight given what's happened to him in the last 24 hours.
Manager Sean Dyche said: "Because of the situation, we have given Charlie a day off to spend with time with his family and ready his thoughts before he joins us on the trip to Cork."
The surprise inclusion could be that of Jaden Hall. The midfielder is believed to have been training with us and last week the Lancashire Telegraph revealed he was a target. Having started his career at Blackburn, the 19-year-old midfielder was a member of Stoke's development squad last season but was released in May.
There may or may not be more trialists but other than that it will be members of our Current Squad who will make up the team and subs.
Looking forward to the game, Dyche said today: "The early games, as you can imagine, are about fitness and people getting their eye back in.
"There will be lots of changes in those early games, including the game in Cork, but the lads have come back in good shape. We are building it up slowly and we want to make sure we stay injury free.
"Pre-season is hard, whichever way you look at it. It's a difficult time physically and mentally, but we've got a nice game at Morecambe followed by a lovely trip to Cork."
Morecambe will have a new signing and a new captain tonight. Earlier today they clinched the signing of Mark Hughes who was released by Bury at the end of the 2012/13 season.
He's signed a two year deal and Morecambe boss Jim Bentley said: "He is a great talker as well as a good defender and will be an excellent captain for us."
He'll join Padraig Amond, Danny Carlton and Luke Denson in the team tonight. Former Accrington striker Amond has been training with Morecambe and they are hoping to sign him. For Carlton it will be a first game back from injury. He hasn't played since September last year, and Denson, a former Tranmere right back, is, like Amond, on trial with the club.
The Hughes signing this morning is Morecambe's fifth of the summer, and, at 26, he's the oldest of the five, all of whom were previously with North West clubs. The other four signings are Macclesfield's 22-year-old French defender Tony Diagne, Marcus Marshall, a 23-year-old winger from Bury, striker Jack Sampson from Bolton and Alex Kenyon who was in midfield for Stockport last season. The latter two are both aged 20.
All of them are expected to play some part tonight but they will be without Chris McCready who they hope will be fit for their next friendly against Middlesbrough.
Looking forward to the game, Bentley said: "We have been back in training for a couple of weeks no and things have been looking good.
"The lads look really sharp but it is all about games and I'm looking forward to coming up against Burnley. They will be tough opponents but that is what you want.
"It's all about fitness and shape and getting new signings used to our system."
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| First Burnley goals for Steven Fletcher |
Burnley have played once previously at the Globe Arena, winning a Carling Cup 2nd round tie there three years ago, coming from behind to win it 3-1 with goals from Chris Eagles, Steven Thompson (pen) and Kevin McDonald.
Our last pre-season friendly in Morecambe was in 2009 and on the day we signed Brian Easton. We won 3-1 on that occasion too, but the one real memory I have from that game is that of the reaction from the Morecambe fans to our promotion.
Twice ahead of kick off their PA announcer congratulated us on our promotion to the Premier League and on both occasions most of the home fans in the main stand stood to offer genuine applause. It rained heavily too, something apparently we are not to expect tonight.
The game provided Steven Fletcher with his first Burnley goals. He made no mistake with a left foot shot after being set up by Martin Paterson. That came just a minute after our first goal when roles were reversed and Paterson received the ball from Fletcher and saw his deflected shot nestle in the bottom corner.
Fletcher got his second before Morecambe pulled one back and there was just time at the end for the announcer to once again offer his congratulations before playing 'Bring me sunshine'. Sadly it rained again and we all got soaked.
The teams were;
Morecambe: Barry Roche, Darren Moss, Laurence Wilson, David Artell, Danny Adams, Mark Hudson, Mark Duffy, Fraser McLachlan, Craig Stanley, Nick Chadwick, Colin Larkin. Subs: Scott Davies, Andy Parrish, Michael Twiss, Aaron Taylor, Henry McStay, Scott Winter, Steve Woods.
Burnley
First Half: Brian Jensen, David Edgar, Clarke Carlisle, Steven Caldwell, Christian Kalvenes, Wade Elliott, Graham Alexander, Chris McCann, Chris Eagles, Martin Paterson, Steven Fletcher.
Second Half: Diego Penny, Tyrone Mears, Michael Duff, Steven Caldwell, Stephen Jordan, Wade Elliott (Remco van der Schaaf 62), Kevin McDonald Joey Gudjonsson, Chris Eagles, Jay Rodriguez, Steven Fletcher (Robbie Blake 62).