Dyche backs strikers to find the net

While only four sides have conceded fewer Premier League goals than Burnley, Dyche’s men have scored only once in five outings so far this season, with Scott Arfield netting in the opening game against Chelsea.

The Clarets host Sunderland on Saturday without Ings and Vokes, who hit 47 goals between them last season, after Ings picked up a hamstring problem at Crystal Palace last Saturday, while Vokes continues his recovery from a ruptured anterior cruciate knee ligament suffered just over five months ago.

Dyche has Lukas Jutkiewicz, Marvin Sordell, Ashley Barnes and George Boyd all capable of filling the void, although the quartet boast only two Premier League goals between them over their careers so far.

However, as he points out, after the sale of Charlie Austin to QPR last year, the question was posed as to where the goals would come from, and he said: “I think there has been a nice pathway probably led by Ingsy and Vokesy last season.

“If you remember when Charlie left everyone was saying ‘what’s going to happen now?’

“It’s a striker’s job to flourish. We certainly think we work in a manner that allows that and the only pressure I put on a striker is to be in there to score a goal. There’s no pressure from me if you miss.

“I believe we have got people who want to score.

“It brings that open-mindedness for our players. If they are watching that they will think ‘why not?’”

Vokes had only hit double figures once in a season before last term, netting 12 for Bournemouth in 2007/08, while Ings had only 14 Football League goals in total before a remarkable campaign.

Dyche added: “It’s not a negative thing but Vokesy’s record was up and down, Ingsy’s record was quiet.

“He had shown real signs of talent but his actual goal-scoring record was very low really.

“I think there is a way that we play that opens up chances for strikers and allows them the opportunity to be in the box and score goals and it’s down to them to bring that kind of mental and physical feeling to their game to go and do so.

“It’s about proving people right and firstly themselves because every player has an instinct and a belief in themselves to play at the top level or you wouldn’t bother.

“Every player wants to play at the top level so when you get there go and enjoy it but not in a fluffy way. You’ve got to go and enjoy it in a professional way when the demand is high and you respond to the demand.”

Jutkiewicz has impressed so far, starting every Premier League game, without finding the net, but Dyche is delighted with his input: “We thought he was a good player anyway and we think there is more growth in him as a player.

“I think there are good signs of that. Eventually with strikers people look at their goals but there has to be more to it, particularly with modern strikers.

“You very rarely see strikers now who do nothing other than score a goal. There are a couple out there but not many. Striking players have become more team orientated, especially off the ball.

“The tactics of defending off the front have changed massively and I think there’s development in his game all round.

“He is enjoying it so far. He is enjoying the environment and he is certainly delivering positive performances for the team.

“We have always felt there is more to his game than just being a big man and he has certainly shown signs of that.

“He has been around a bit but he’s still relatively young in terms of learning his game in his entirety and the role of the striker.”