More to come from in form James Tarkowski and Nick Pope - Burnley boss Sean Dyche

The average age of the side which started against Wolves was 28, with four players 30 or over.

Dwight McNeil, at 20, was the only under 21.

But Dyche points out that a number of his key players are coming into their prime and can only improve – players such as James Tarkowski and Nick Pope.

Tarkowski, 27, and Pope, 28, are enjoying stand out seasons, and Dyche feels there is mich more to come: “Trust me, goalkeepers and centre backs I think are a delayed version of other players, they often are way better later.

“Tarky is at a brilliant age, I think – continuing to mature, physically superb, maturing his all-round role as a leader and the way he goes about it.

“Popey very similar.

“Dwighty has time to come with that, but using centre halves and goalkeepers, I think they’re in a really good place.

“You look at Ben Mee, slightly older, 30, 31, in a really good place.

“Centre halves and goalkeepers understand the role more as you get older, all the tiny details, the reading of the game and how it works, distances, pitch geography, all things that come into play.

“Those two are putting it together, among many others at the moment – Westy is another one, unbelievable physical prowess, but rounded as a player and he continues to do so, Corky - it’s a joy to watch them, how they go about it and continue to develop. And there’s lots more beyond that.”

Tarkowski is consistently hitting levels many felt he was capable of as a youngster with Oldham, when Dyche was a big fan: “I tried to get him here when he was at Oldham – I pushed hard for Tarky, and in the end he went to Brentford for about £300,000, and the board said ‘we can’t do it’. We ended up paying £3m! But that’s the way it is sometimes, it’s what you have to do.”

“Going back to when I first got here, I was watching lots of football around this area, as many nights as I could, lower league football, reserve football, because at the time we had no money.

“They made it clear there was no money available.

“We eventually got Barnesy in for £400,000 a few months later, but I often keep tabs on players.

“I liked what I saw with Tarky, I liked what I saw when he went to Brentford, and he was a player I’d always had at the back of my mind if we could affect it, same with Barnesy - I often stick with players, the first was Tom Heaton, my first signing, I was 24 hours away from taking him to Watford and found out the news that I was not to be.”But I made it clear to him, I said ‘one day I’ll be back’, and I was.”Often, not always, I stand by players that I think I like what I’m seeing, and at some point often find a way of getting them in the building - like Crouchy, but that was only because he got me into the VIP of the VIP!”

Tarkowski had to be patient at Burnley, signing in January 2016, only to have to bide his time before the departure of Michael Keane in the summer of 2017 before establishing himself in the side: “At the time he was behind Keano and Ben, but he was doing terrific and we knew what he was about. I kept reassuring him, and Longy, I said ‘listen, I can see it in you, you’re going to be ready, so when your chance comes, you will be ready’.

”Longy has done great more recently, and Tarky over a longer period now. I do marvel at these players, their professionalism is so high, because when that chance comes, they are ready.

“They’re just two of many players here who have stayed game ready, and when their chance has come, they’ve delivered.

”Popey as well, of course, he believed in what we do, so that’s massive credit to the staff, but also the mentality to trust us and believe in what we are trying to achieve, or help them achieve.”