Burnley boss not distracted by Palace speculation

Dyche’s odds on taking the post at the Premier League Eagles tumbled on Monday from 100/1 outsider to 3/1 second favourite – above Tony Pulis in the betting.

Dyche had been interviewed about Palace’s last managerial vacancy last October, before taking the reins at Turf Moor, and the speculation caused some consternation among Burnley fans, after guiding the club to the top of the Championship table, with one defeat in the opening 15 league games.

However, with Pulis looking set to be appointed, Dyche admits the rumours are merely a sign that things are going well at Turf Moor: “I think what we as a group are looking and trying to achieve, and the way we have gone about it, people want to know what is going on here.

“We’re not deemed market leaders or favourites, and people will always look and ask ‘why?’

“That’s all it is as far as I’m concerned.”

Often alot is read into bookmakers’ odds for managerial jobs, but Dyche laughed: “Fortunately I’m not a gambler, I’m too tight for that!”

Dyche has preferred to focus on preparing his side for tomorrow’s trip to fifth place Nottingham Forest, while delighting in Danny Ings’ continued goalscoring exploits, this time with England Under 21s.

Ings made his first start for Gareth Southgate’s side in Tuesday’s record 9-0 win over San Marino at Shrewsbury Town, and he scored twice to take his seasonal tally to 16 goals in 21 appearances for club and country this season.

Dyche was delighted for the striker: “San Marino may not be the strongest opponents, and hopefully we will see him in an England shirt against a stronger side, with all due respect, but all you can do is score goals against whoever you play against, and he did that.

“It was a valuable experience for him, he got his first start, and continued his goal-scoring form. You always want your goalscorers scoring, in training, friendlies, and competitive games.”

Meanwhile, having already beaten Forest 2-1 in the Capital One Cup at Turf Moor this season - when Billy Davies made 11 changes from Forest’s previous league game - Dyche expects an entirely different test at his former club tomorrow.

He said: “Their squad is certainly up there with QPR, Reading and Leicester - they have a very big squad for Championship football and can change it around.

“They have two or three injuries, but probably in their world it doesn’t really effect them.

“But we’ll be ready for them, whatever team they put out. We respect every one in the Championship,.”

Burnley go to the City Ground with no new injury concerns, with Ings, Sam Vokes and Danny Lafferty all reporting back fit after international duty.

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