Burnley FC boss bids to bolster squad

However, he admits he has lost out on other targets due to finances.

Dyche has only used 20 players all season in guiding Burnley to the top of the Championship table, but with six games to come after the deadline before he can bring any more reinforcements in from January 1st, he is keen to bolster his squad at a key period.

Dyche said: “There have been a number of phonecalls made, and there are a couple of options of which one’s probably gone out of our level of finance.

“There are a couple of others that are still alive. We’ll wait and see.”

Recently, Connor Wickham decided to join Sheffield Wednesday on loan from Sunderland, as he felt he had more chance of game time with the Owls, despite Burnley heading the queue for his services.

But Dyche feels players should want to join his side and back themselves to break into it: “Of course we’re attractive in one way because we’re top of the league, the team’s going well and there are good signs of what we’re doing and we hope there’s good word of mouth about how we work with the players and what we’re hoping for them to achieve - let alone ourselves as a group - but for them as individuals.

“The other side of that is there will be players who think that is a pretty balanced side, and looks a solid side, and a side that’s delivering performances, so think ‘if I do go there am I going to get in the team?

“Over time that may change of course but at the moment they will be looking and wondering.

“It depends what type of player you’re talking about.

“Some players will grip the challenge and say ‘I’ll make sure that I show enough to get in the team’ and others will want to go straight in immediately.

“Signings are different. When you sign someone they’re in your thinking and that can change over time whether you’re first choice or not. Loans are different because most want to go on loan to play and get straight into the side.”