Clarets boss hails ‘warrior’ Duff

The 37-year-old is starting his 12th season with Burnley – his testimonial year – and Dyche insists he still has much to offer to the side.

After the 2-0 win against Bradford City at Turf Moor on Saturday, Dyche said: “He’s been tremendous.

“He’s been fantastic for the club and he still remains there, he’s still ready, he’s still fit, he still wants to be picked.

“When he’s got that desire, he’s another great warrior for us.

“If you remain with that eye of the tiger you can keep playing because that’s the key thing later on in life.

“The fire burns less bright but he’s certainly got fire – he wants to be involved, wants to play.”

Duff extended his contract at the end of the season, and Dyche added: “I had a good chat with him in the summer about what he thought next.

“He said ‘I’m going to work really hard, I want to be part of your plans’.

“Everyone knows he’s played under me.

“That doesn’t guarantee that, he knows that. The challenge only gets harder when you get older because there’s always someone knocking on the door.

“We want that challenge from Keano, Longy had a setback but we want that challenge from him, Ben Mee can play there. There are different ways we can look at it but he’s been a big part and we want him to be a big part.

“If he’s playing every week we want him to be big part in what we do off the pitch.

“But he’s certainly laying down a marker to say ‘I’m ready’”.

And Duff’s attitude can only inspire: “I’d imagine there’s admiration for how he looks after himself and how he conducts himself and how he trains and wants to train and wants to stay sharp.”