Burnley boss eager to open talks with Austin

Manager Sean Dyche is eager to look at 20-goal Austin’s contract situation - which runs out in the summer of 2014 - as he gets his feet under the table at Turf Moor after a frantic first couple of weeks at the helm.

But he stresses that Austin is one of several players he will assess - with the likes of Lee Grant, Michael Duff, Chris McCann, Ross Wallace, Dean Marney. Martin Paterson, Brian Jensen and Kevin Long all out of contract at the end of the season.

Dyche said: “I will be looking at Charlie’s contract situation, but I’ll be doing that with all the players, not just Charlie.”

Austin is being closely monitored by over half the Premier League, including Arsenal, Liverpool, Newcastle and Aston Villa, and Dyche admitted: “It’s a double-edged sword.

“You want to be at a club where people want your players.

“People want Manchester United players because they’re market leaders, and we want to be considered like that, people wanting your players.

“That usually means your players are doing well, and you’re doing well.

“On the flipside, you don’t want to lose your players, but it’s the reality of the business.”

• CLARETS left back Danny Lafferty has been called up to the Northern Ireland squad for their World Cup qualifier against Azerbaijan tomorrow at Windsor Park.

Lafferty made his first start of the season at Ipswich on Saturday, replacing the injured Ben Mee.

• The Burnley Express has launched a FREE football app which is now available to download on iPhone and Android devices.