Honesty and integrity of Dyche was crucial for Barton

Barton has been in direct competition with the Clarets over the past two seasons with QPR, vying for promotion before battling against relegation.

And a final meeting, and meal, with manager Dyche convinced him moving to Turf Moor was the best fit for him: “The gaffer invited me round to his house, we spoke at length face to face for the first time and that’s when I knew .

“There were a few different offers on the table but I walked out, picked the phone up and said ‘I want to sign for Burnley’. It was a no-brainer for me. It was the perfect fit for me.

“The group is ideal. Walking in here I just know I’m going to able to come in an focus totally on getting better as a footballer, buying into the group, hopefully adding something massively to the group, which is why they’ve brought me in here.

“It’s a great place.

“I’m back in the north west. I’m obviously from here but haven’t been here for eight years.

“There are lots and lots of positives and I’m really looking forward to it.”

Asked whether there anything in particular Dyche said to tip the scales, he added: “It was just listening to someone and the reality of a no-nonsense approach – this is where we are, this is what we want to do, this is how I see it for you.

“It was so refreshing.

“There are a lot of people talking a lot nonsense from time to time but professing to know everything and it can cloud it.

“For me I just love football, I love playing football, I love mucking in with everybody.”