English talent deserves more credit - Dyche

As England Under 21 strikers Danny Ings and Harry Kane go head to head at White Hart Lane in tonight’s FA Cup third round replay, Dyche feels there is a tendency to promote foreign players ahead of our own.

He suggests there has been an element of “brainwashing” into assuming foreign is better, but feels Ings and Kane - with 24 goals between them at the top level so far this term - have shown what can happen if you give domestic players their head.

While Harry Redknapp lamented “poor defending” after terrific individual goals from Ings and Scott Arfield against his QPR side on Saturday, Dyche joked that had Arfield’s goal been scored by Arsenal’s Chilean forward Alexis Sanchez,”that gets shown a thousand times over the weekend, we might get 50!”

But on a serious note, he said: “There’s a thirst for British/English talent to do well, and so I thought it was ironic on Saturday that there was the suggestion that there was poor defending for the goals from Danny Ings and Scott Arfield.

“I’m suggesting it would be nice to promote the fact that two, young British players who are new to the Premier League can score goals like that. I think that’s to be applauded and built upon.

“I’m surprised that doesn’t turn into a very positive situation. If it was a Spanish player, an Italian a French player, or whatever, I think it would’ve been a different view.

“Some of it is tongue in cheek but if we’re going to advertise the fact there’s good quality, young British and English players out there, advertise it and promote it and believe in it.”

He added: “It seems to me that sometimes an English player will do something and we’re like ‘it’s decent.’ If it’s someone bought from other shores for a big fee it’s ‘look at that, amazing.

“There’s a balance to it but I think it’s good these young British and English players are playing in the Premier League.

“It is the way forward as regards the national systems, because it’s the highest level they can play at and the demand is very high in the Premier League.

“It’s not sad. We’re all guilty of it at some point and all kind of been brainwashed by it that we’re not as strong nationally and with the national first-team.

“We’ve got to be careful to not brainwash ourselves and look at it a little bit more and say there’s some really good young players out there.”

Kane has become a firm favourite with the Spurs fans, after ousting Roberto Soldado and Emmanuel Adebayor, and Dyche feels the country needs homegrown heroes: “Harry Kane is another one, banging goals in. I’m just suggesting there needs to be a little balance. “We keep moaning about our national side and there are million questions about these development plans.

“When there are some shining lights at least enjoy it and encourage it because they’re the pathway for little Johnny who’s seven-years-old in the park saying, ‘I’m Harry Kane.’

“If we don’t promote them they’re not going to go towards them.

“There’s a balance. Just because Harry Kane hasn’t been brought into that club for £50m doesn’t mean he’s not a good player.

“Danny Ings has come from a soft start in non-league and then into Bournemouth and up to Burnley, and Charlie Austin is scoring goals.

“I’m not suggesting they are ready for the national side but there are some good, little shining lights, probably under the radar for the last year or so.

“I’m not saying they are the real deal, but at least let’s promote the fact there are some good young English players out there and they are active and they are playing in the Premier League.”