Burnley boss puts form down to duo’s fitness

The pair have eight goals between them from the first seven games of the season, and Dyche puts much of their good form down to their graft in pre-season.

Both look as fit as they have been during their time at Turf Moor, and Dyche said: “Ingsy is really alive at the moment. We’re enjoying him and I think he’s enjoying it.

“We spoke a lot to him last year and in the summer about what we think he can achieve, and what he can do, and he’s taken a lot on board.

“And I must say, Ingsy is getting the plaudits lately, and rightly so, but I must add Sam Vokes into the mix.

“He’s developing well and he’s enjoying his football I think.”

He added: “I said you’d better be ready for pre-season, come back fit and ready, because you will be working!

“Their fitness has improved, and in turn that improves mental and physical sharpness, which improves belief, an the ability to improve performances for longer.

“In turn you hope that improves individual performances and team performances over the longer term.

“I explained to them the simplicity of it, and they’ve taken it on board.

“They’ve worked hard. The work in the summer wasn’t ridiculous, we had good science support, physiotherapy, and that measure between fitness and energy.

“You can only offer and guide people towards performance though, at the end of the day, I believe players take ownership of performance.

“If they agree with me and wish to take on what me and my staff offer them, fantastic.

“If not, we have anger discussion, then another, then I demand, then I drag.”