Burnley have signalled their intentions to stay in the Premier League next season by returning to training before the current campaign has even finished.
Vincent Kompany's side returned for pre-season training on Monday, just 48 hours after the FA Cup final and with two European finals still to come in 2022-23.
Photographs and video put out on the Clarets' social media feeds showed some members of the squad being put through their paces in the sunshine at the Burnley Training Centre.
The squad were seen catching up over lunch and undergoing medical tests before lacing up their boots to complete running, stretching and some ball exercises on the training pitches.
Burnley returned to the top-flight at the first time of asking following a hugely impressive title-winning campaign in the Championship.
They amassed 101 points, finishing 10 clear of Sheffield United, and scored 87 goals in 46 games.
Kompany's team secured automatic promotion on April 7 with a 2-1 win at Middlesbrough and secured the title on April 25 with a 1-0 victory at local rivals Blackburn Rovers.
Given they played their final game of the season against Cardiff on May 8, the Clarets' players have enjoyed almost a month off.
Several players are away on international duty, so it was a smaller group than would usually be the case, but their early return is a clear signal of intent ahead of next season.
Anass Zaroury, Johann Berg Gudmundsson, Connor Roberts, Josh Cullen and Michael Obafemi were among those now involved on Monday.
Lancashire Live reported that Burnley will effectively split their pre-season into two.
The current group in training will go on a trip to Portugal and then there will be a short break before the international players return, with a second trip to Portugal planned.
No pre-season friendlies have yet been confirmed.
Midfielder Josh Brownhill said: 'It feels quick! No, it feels good. Obviously it's nice to come back after having a nice few weeks off.
'You sort of miss the football, so to be back at it and seeing everyone is good. The weather was hit and miss over Europe! But no, it was nice to have some time off and relax.'
Kompany's former club Manchester City have still to play the Champions League final against Inter Milan this Saturday, while West Ham take on Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League final on Wednesday - but Burnley are back already.
Their fixtures for the 2023-24 season will be announced at 9am on June 15.
It remains to be seen whether Wout Weghorst linked up with Burnley at any point after his loan spell at Manchester United concluded.
He came on as a late substitute in Saturday's FA Cup final as United lost 2-1 to City.
Reports have suggested Everton could make a move for the Netherlands international forward, who scored twice for Erik ten Hag's team in 31 appearances
Weghorst was on loan at Turkish club Besiktas when Ten Hag made a move for him in the January transfer window, paying £2.6million in compensation to get him.
United have no obligation to buy the forward, who reverts to his parent club at the end of June and is expected to hold talks with Kompany over his next step.
Burnley were boosted ahead of their final game when Kompany agreed a new five-year contract at Turf Moor.
The 37-year-old Belgian had impressed in his first season of management in England having arrived from Anderlecht in his homeland.
Kompany had been linked with the managerial vacancies at Tottenham and Chelsea before committing to the Clarets.
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