We're getting right balance - Dyche

15 August 2014 12:16

Burnley boss Sean Dyche hopes he has the right balance in his squad to succeed in the Barclays Premier League.

The Clarets play their first match back in the top flight on Monday when Chelsea visit Turf Moor.

Dyche has so far resisted the temptation to make wholesale changes to the squad that finished second in the Championship, adding only six players to what was already a small group.

With a small budget, Dyche's options are limited anyway, but the former Watford boss is also determined to keep the squad dynamic that proved so important last season.

Midfielders Matt Taylor and Steven Reid have added a lot of top-flight experience, while strikers Lukas Jutkiewicz and Marvin Sordell, winger Michael Kightly and goalkeeper Matt Gilks have also come in.

Dyche said: "We want to find a balanced group in Burnley's world, both financially and what we think is right for the group and how we operate. I think we've done that so far and we are looking to add further.

"Obviously the two main lads with experience we've brought in are Steven Reid and Matty Taylor.

"They're still active, they've made it clear they are by getting games under their belt in recent seasons, but they also have that real depth of Premier League knowledge about going around the country and playing at all the Premier League stadiums and I think that's important because it gives that balance to the group."

Jutkiewicz, 25, is already on his ninth professional club having joined the Clarets from Middlesbrough last month.

He impressed on loan at Bolton last term and was Burnley's star turn in pre-season, scoring six goals in as many games.

"He's open-minded, big Juke, and we like that," Dyche said. "(Sam) Vokes proved last year how open-minded he was and (Danny) Ings, the way we work and the way we operate.

"We take that side of things seriously, the development of players no matter what their age is, and if they choose to run with our ideas and our thinking, it's been pretty positive so far the outcome that they've got, which of course affects the team in a positive manner.

"We're looking to work with all the players, no matter what age. We want them to improve, we want them to engage and be aligned with what we do.

"It's important as a team we are totally aligned on the outcome, and that is delivering good performances in order to get wins."

The partnership between strikers Vokes and Ings was key to Burnley's promotion last season, the pair netting 41 league goals between them.

Ings will be looking to pick up where he left off on Monday but Vokes must wait until later in the season for his chance after rupturing a cruciate ligament in March.

"He's still a while away yet but he's doing really, really well," Dyche said.

"There's no timescale - we wouldn't do that to a player with that type of injury. He's been out on the grass, very light training. Not with us, with the physios, but he's going well and he's in good spirits.

"He's a great character. He's someone who's done fantastically well and will do again."

Source: PA