Dyche backs strikers to shine

Clarets boss Sean Dyche believes his strikers will rise to the challenge of the Premier League.
Good signs: Lukas Jutkiewicz goes close against Swansea CityGood signs: Lukas Jutkiewicz goes close against Swansea City
Good signs: Lukas Jutkiewicz goes close against Swansea City

After the first four games of the season - including a Capital One Cup exit at the hands of Sheffield Wednesday - Burnley have only one goal to show for their efforts, Scott Arfield’s opener in the 3-1 defeat at home to Chelsea.

Forwards Danny Ings and Lukas Jutkiewicz are yet to find the net, but their partnership has shown good signs so far, and Dyche, asked about his strikers getting off ther mark, sooner rather than later said: “I think it’s helpful, but I look at their performances, and I think their performances will grow.

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“Ingsy is still working to find his feet at this level - why wouldn’t he be? He’s a young man going into a real tough level of football.

Good signs: Lukas Jutkiewicz goes close against Swansea CityGood signs: Lukas Jutkiewicz goes close against Swansea City
Good signs: Lukas Jutkiewicz goes close against Swansea City

“Juke showed really good signs in pre-season, I thought he was excellent for large parts of the last game against Manchester United, (Ashley) Barnesy, Marvin (Sordell) who is still under the radar, but I still think there’s production to come from him.

“It is helpful but it’s not a guarantee, it’s a very tough level.

“You look at the strikers who do score a lot of goals at this level and they tend to be worth rather a large of amount of money.”

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Ings sat out England Under 21s’ 1-0 win in Lithuania with illness, but was expected to be available for tonight’s game in Moldova.

New loan signings Nathaniel Chalobah and Michael Keane both started in Kaunas, but Chalobah will not be available tonight after picking up his second booking in England’s European Championship Group One campaign against Lithuania.

Also on international duty on Sunday were left backs Stephen Ward and Danny Lafferty.

Lafferty was an unused substitute as Northern Ireland won 2-1 in Hungary with a winner from former Claret Kyle Lafferty.

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Ward appeared to hurt his shoulder 20 minutes from time in the Republic of Ireland’s 2-1 win in Georgia, but he recovered to complete the 90 minutes for Martin O’Neill’s side as Aiden McGeady netted twice in Tbilisi.