Defour has the X-Factor '“ Dyche

Clarets boss Sean Dyche believes Steven Defour can give Burnley the X-Factor.
Burnley's Steven Defour in action during today's match  

Photographer Alex Dodd/CameraSport

The Premier League - Burnley v Watford - Monday 26th September 2016 - Turf Moor - Burnley

World Copyright © 2016 CameraSport. All rights reserved. 43 Linden Ave. Countesthorpe. Leicester. England. LE8 5PG - Tel: +44 (0) 116 277 4147 - admin@camerasport.com - www.camerasport.comBurnley's Steven Defour in action during today's match  

Photographer Alex Dodd/CameraSport

The Premier League - Burnley v Watford - Monday 26th September 2016 - Turf Moor - Burnley

World Copyright © 2016 CameraSport. All rights reserved. 43 Linden Ave. Countesthorpe. Leicester. England. LE8 5PG - Tel: +44 (0) 116 277 4147 - admin@camerasport.com - www.camerasport.com
Burnley's Steven Defour in action during today's match Photographer Alex Dodd/CameraSport The Premier League - Burnley v Watford - Monday 26th September 2016 - Turf Moor - Burnley World Copyright © 2016 CameraSport. All rights reserved. 43 Linden Ave. Countesthorpe. Leicester. England. LE8 5PG - Tel: +44 (0) 116 277 4147 - [email protected] - www.camerasport.com

Defour was instrumental in Monday night’s 2-0 win against Watford at Turf Moor, claiming assists for both goals.

The Belgian midfielder has now been involved in 80% of Burnley’s goals so far this season, scoring one and having a hand in another four.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher feels the former Anderlecht man gives the Clarets a bit of class they were lacking two seasons ago, when they were relegated from the Premier League.

And, ahead of Sunday’s visit of Arsenal (kick-off 4-30 p.m.).

Dyche, asked whether Defour can give Burnley something they didn’t have last time at this level, said: “He has so far.

“He’s learning, he’s adapting and he’s getting used to the Premier League and the fitness levels required.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“He’s a good player, else we wouldn’t have brought him here.

“Maybe he’d been overlooked a bit. I knew a bit about him, and my scouts went and watched him and we thought he can fit what we do, but add more to what we do, and that was the idea.

“Jeff (Hendrick)’s another in, as is Johann (Berg Gudmundsson), they’ve all been brought in for a reason.

“We’re not in a position to sign players, move them on and build a squad of 30, so every player we bring in is important.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Defour, after adapting to the pace of the Premier League, looks something of a bargain at £7.4m, adding silk and steel, and Dyche feels his quality can only inspire those around him: “He’s a good technician, it’s why we brought him here.

“He can deliver, pass and break up the play.

“He’s got a calmness to him and that extra belief from playing for Belgium, playing in big games, under tough circumstances sometimes, when he moved to Anderlecht from Liege.

“It gives you a strength, and he’s got a strength of character, and strength to have the ball, want it and receive it.

“And that rubs off on others.”

While Defour adds class, Dyche feels there is more depth to his squad this time around: “We wanted to add some depth to the layers. We’re working with around 20 this time and it is difficult, there were two or three others we wanted to bring in which would have given us more strength, but alongside that there is an open mindedness for players to step in and perform.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

I stood by a few players on Monday night who I felt I could have changed, but I try and be fair and give them a chance once I have a side settled in my mind, and they deserved a chance and they delivered.

“There is more we are hoping to do in the market, the squad has got to keep improving because it’s a tough league, we know that, but there’s good signs there of the mentality.”