BESART Berisha has vowed to come back to Burnley fitter and stronger, after the club agreed a loan move to Rosenborg.

The Albanian international, who had his first Clarets season written off by a cruciate knee ligament injury, will stay with the top flight Norwegian club until January, when it is hoped his recovery process is complete.

The temporary switch has been orchestrated so that the striker can be involved in competitive matches on a regular basis – something that Burnley manager Owen Coyle could not guarantee going into a new season, which begins with a trip to Sheffield Wednesday today (kick-off 3pm).

And Berisha admitted he is relishing the test.

"This is a good opportunity for me to play games and I am looking forward to it,” said the 23-year-old, who joined the Clarets last summer on a three-year deal from Hamburg SV and scored his first goal in the 3-0 friendly win over Accrington Stanley last month.

“It has been hard regaining my fitness after the injury, but I feel good at the moment and I need to take the next step.

“I don’t think I am quite there yet and if that means I am not going to be in the first team at Burnley, then it is good that the manager is prepared to let me get some competitive action elsewhere.

“Rosenborg play at a good standard and I want to do my best for them, but I will not forget that I am a Burnley player and I want to come back next year bigger and stronger.

“Scoring my first goal for the club at Accrington in pre-season was such a great feeling and it has made me more determined to get back to full fitness and show the fans what I can do.”

Mid-table Rosenborg have 10 league games remaining in the Tippeligaen, the first of which is at home to Molde tomorrow when Berisha could make his debut, while UEFA Cup action could extend their season into November.

And boss Coyle believes the front man will reap the benefits.

“Bes will go on loan to Rosenborg until December 31. This will enable him to get match games which are vital for his rehabilitation,” he said.

“He has been out for a year and is not quite ready to start in our team just now, but if he goes there he will hopefully come back on January 1 as a new player and ready to play a part for Burnley Football Club.

"Bes desperately needs games and this serves a purpose because with all due respect to the reserve league that will not allow him to get back to the level he was at before.

“As I said, he’s been out for a year exactly and this gives him the opportunity to play at a good level by playing week in, week out and hopefully we will get a better player as a result.”