After the 61^st game of a very long season, Burnley finally ended their 33-year absence from top flight football thanks to a goal from Wade Elliott. Owen Coyle’s side beat Sheffield United to secure victory at Wembley and passage to the Promised Land of Premier League football in 2009/10.

Having only secured their place in the play-off’s on the final day of the season, a similar score-line a couple of weeks previous against the same opposition severely dented the Yorkshire side’s automatic promotion chances and the Clarets, founder members of the Football League, completed a notable double to claim the ultimate prize.

A terrific Carling Cup run has often been symbolic of a likely promotion from the second tier and Burnley’s confidence undoubtedly profited from their run to the semi-final’s of that competition. Coyle now faces the same questions that Messer’s Brown, Mowbray and Pulis tried to answer last season - how to keep the club in the Premier League whilst keeping them solvent?

The squad has experience with Robbie Blake and Graham Alexander but adding some genuine Premiership experience will be vital if the Clarets are to stand any chance of extending their stay with the big boys beyond a single season. No doubt it is still a challenge Coyle is pleased to have.