Andre is in right place to develop

Andre Gray is in the perfect place to continue his development, according to Clarets boss Sean Dyche.
Back of the net: Andre Gray has scored six goals since a club record move to Turf MoorBack of the net: Andre Gray has scored six goals since a club record move to Turf Moor
Back of the net: Andre Gray has scored six goals since a club record move to Turf Moor

Gray took his tally to six goals in nine starts for Burnley, since completing a club record £6m move from Brentford in August, with both goals in a 2-1 win at home to Huddersfield Town on Saturday.

And, ahead of tonight’s visit of Fulham to Turf Moor, Dyche hailed how quickly the strikers has adapted to life in East Lancashire: “You can never guarantee it, some players are slow burners and get stronger, and end up being fantastic players for clubs, and some hit the ground running.

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“There’s no absolute science, but we’ve got a very open group, open staff, and allow players the chance to fit in very quickly, and work with the players a lot one on one and on a team basis.

Andre Gray celebrates his opener with Scott ArfieldAndre Gray celebrates his opener with Scott Arfield
Andre Gray celebrates his opener with Scott Arfield

“It settles them in quickly.

“We give him open mindedness, one of his main qualities is there’s no fear of missing, and I love that in centre forwards, if you miss, so what?

“You won’t hear me moan when they miss, only if they’re not in there to miss.

“I think he’s got that, if he misses, he’s not bothered, he waits for the one he scores, and that’s a great thing to have.

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“Vokesy has that now. I don’t think he did when we got here, but he has now, that fearlessness to score.

“Andre is a solid boy, there’s no two ways about it, he’s learning about how to use his body, the tactical side of defending, he’s got a desire, and I think he’s in a very good environment to not only be productive, but continue developing.”

Saturday’s win was an eighth in 11 league games, in which time Burnley have only lost once.

And after relegation from the Premier League last season, winning seven games at the higher level, Dyche is pleased at how his players have rediscovered that winning habit: “Its good the mindset comes back quickly because it’s hard, it took a knock last season, you find it hard to win games and find wins in the Premier League.

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“There were a few questions marks, as ever, in this game, within a game or two this season, but I believe in the players and what we do, and they believe in themselves.

“We’re on a nice run, but form doesn’t owe you anything, you have to earn the right for the next win.

This one’s parked, we’ll make sense of it and get ready for Fulham.”

Burnley produced one of their most cohesive displays of the season so far against Huddersfield, but Dyche still feels there is more to come from his side as they become more accustomed to each other’s games after remoulding the squad over the summer.

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On the back of the win at derby rivals Blackburn Rovers last week, Burnley didn’t rest on their laurels, and he said: “After the big win last week, for myself, the staff and players, and particularly the fans, to follow it up with a nice win is very good.

“There are still a few question marks over what I want from the players, but they are all positives and we can still improve.”

Dyche celebrated three years in charge on Friday, with his anniversary marked, as his first game at the helm was, with a home win.

The Burnley board marked the milestone with a cake for the manager at Friday’s board meeting, and Dyche joked: “Did you see it?!

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“In other parts of the country you get a Rolex, but here you get a cake!

“I’ve Burnley-fied myself now. I see something and say ‘that’s expensive!’ The missus says ‘you’ve been in Burnley a long time now!’

“I know how it works in these parts now...”