Dyche prepared to do what it takes to seal promotion

That tally would have seen them as champions in all bar one of the previous eight seasons, and the following year as well.

But it could take that total again to see the Clarets over the line for promotion this term.

Wins in their last two games, at home to QPR on Monday and at Charlton next Saturday, would take Burnley to 93 points, and boss Sean Dyche admits: "It would be very good again.

"I think that’s the highest runner-up tally.

"It might need that to get the job done, that’s the way it’s looking at the moment.

"But we focus on the next game, and we’re aware we have to do whatever we have to do.

"That’s the key to it. I’ve not set a target total.

An immediate return is almost within touching distance, but Dyche knows there is a job to be done yet to confirm Premier League status again: "It kind of does in a way (feel within touching distance), but it doesn’t in another because you know there’s still plenty of work to be done. "There’s two big games, everyone is talking about that, and they’re two big games.

"We’ve earned the right to be where we are and now it’s important we continue with the focus we’ve had on all the other games because that’s what it takes to be successful."

Remarkably, Burnley's post-war club record unbeaten run of 21 league games hasn't shaken off the challenge of Middlesbrough and Brighton, who go into the last two games level on points, but Dyche noted: "It’s been a really competitive Championship this year.

"If you look at some of the sides who’ve had indifferent spells, the three of us have maintained high ratio of winds to be where we are.

"Ours is slightly different, after Boxing Day we were eight points behind Boro and maybe six behind Brighton.

"Our journey has been slightly different, we’ve had catching up to do and we’ve done that very well."

Middlesbrough play at Birmingham tonight, before Brighton host Derby on Monday lunchtime, and while Dyche is only focused on what his players can control, he will be an interested observer tonight: "We’ll watch that one (Boro).

"The Monday one we’ll be preparing ourselves. I watch all the games, regardless of positions. It’s a learning phase of watching games, picking up tips and watching other teams. It just happens these are important games."

Dyche is hopeful Dean Marney, who came off late on in the win at Preston last Friday, will be fit to face QPR: "We’re keeping tabs on Dean Marney, he had a minor stretch in his hamstring against Preston, but he’s going well so we’ll see what the next couple of day brings."