Dyche hopeful on big Sam

Dyche had expected the Wales international to be available for Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Brighton, having missed his country’s friendly with Holland a week last Friday with a groin problem.

But he decided not to risk the 26-year-old, with a view to renewing his promising partnership with 11-goal Andre Gray this weekend.

Rouwen Hennings took his place in the starting line-up, with the German denied his first goal for the club by a fine one-handed save from Seagulls keeper David Stockdale, and Dyche explained:

“It was minor, but sometimes I have to make the decision, and there’s a bigger picture than just Sunday.

“So hopefully we made sure he’s going to be right going forwards.”

Gray scored his eighth goal in six appearances at Turf Moor, netting in his fourth-successive outing on home turf, and Dyche is delighted with his impact: “He’s still improving, there’s a lot he’s got to learn and he’s doing that.

“But the team was more than Andre on Sunday.

“He had quiet spells and then set up a chance for Scotty (Arfield).

“He kept going, but I think you saw there’s more to the team than Andre.”