Dyche proud of Danny’s progress

And if, as it seems, it is time for the 22-year-old to move on, Sean Dyche takes pride in playing a part in his development.

Ings made what is expected to be his last appearance at Turf Moor in a Clarets shirt in the goalless draw with Stoke City on Saturday,with the 10-goal frontman set to complete a move to Liverpool when his contract expires in the summer.

Dyche has acknowledged as much, and Ings left the field on Saturday with the home support chanting “You’ll always be a Claret”.

Dyche said: “Danny has spoken for himself with his actions, he’s been a big part of certainly the last two seasons.

“When I got here he was a developing player, he was learning, improving, but there was a lot of work to be done from our point of view as a staff with him.

“He’s run with it and moved forwards with it, and that’s all you can ask with players.

“You can’t force them, you can guide them towards what you think is fit and proper for them, and it starts with them as individuals, how that links into the team, and how the team move forward.

“He’s been accepting of the information and he’s moved a long, long way in how he goes about his performances, as a person, and how he conducts himself.

“It’s good to see his development, it looks as if that’s not going to continue with us, but I think we’ve played a big part in how he’s moved forward, and a big part he’s played equally with this football club.”

Meanwhile, Dyche admits he won’t have sleepless nights on the back of relegation, satisfied Burnley had a good go at trying to survive in the Premier League, in terms of tactics and their approach to games.

He said: “The one thing I set out this season to the staff and players, if things don’t work out, you’ve got to know you’ve had a go.

“It’s not for me to lay in bed and think ‘what if, why didn’t I do that, why didn’t I do this?’

“The one thing we’ve done is have a real go at staying in the Premier League, home and away.

“We’ve taken every game on, because if you don’t, and you’ve tried to defend it out, and played hope for the best football, and backed off and let teams have the ball, and it doesn’t work, then you’re in trouble in my opinion.

“It’s always the balance.”

Saturday’s opponents Stoke have now survived seven years in the Premier League, and, asked if they were a model to try and replicate, Dyche pointed to a number of examples over the years: “A lot of people speak of different models, Charlton, up and down, up and down, West Brom...there’s no guarantee of that.

“The Championship is a tough level, our fans have seen it themselves, they’ve seen how hard we had to go to get into the Premier League.

“But the club is in a fantastic position and shape, from where it was two and a half years ago.

“Within the disappointment there is a lot to be proud of at this club, for me, the players, staff, board and the fans.”

As the season draws to a close, it was confirmed on Friday that midfielder Dean Marney has signed a new one-year contract, with an option for a further 12 months.

The 31-year-old agreed terms before suffering a cruciate knee ligament injury against West Brom in February.

Marney and Kevin Long, who suffered a similar injury at Newcastle at the turn of the year, are both described as “making good progress.”

Stalwart Michael Duff was also due to meet Dyche yesterday, hopeful of taking his stay at Turf Moor into a 12th season.