Clarets planning ahead of window

With only six weeks to go before clubs can bring players in again, Clarets boss Sean Dyche has one eye on the market.

After twice breaking the club record in the summer to land midfielders Steven Defour and then Jeff Hendrick, chairman Mike Garlick admitted in September that the club could have broken the record a third time for an unknown Dutch player, who opted to go elsewhere.

There was also the aborted move for Rennes’ Poland international winger Kamil Grosicki, so there is still money in the pot, and Garlick has revealed the club “will strengthen again in January.”

While Dyche prefers working with a tight group - he currently has 23 professionals regularly at his disposal, taking into account players out on loan - if he can add more quality and depth, he will do.

It remains to be seen if Joey Barton could return to the club after his release from Rangers - Barton could technically train with the squad, but would only be able to officially sign for any new club on New Year’s Day.

And Dyche said: “We work with a low squad number.

“I quite like that and want the competitive nature of everyone more or less being on the edge of being involved.

“There’s a challenge to that with injuries and suspensions.

“Some of it is balancing finance as well and aligning the right players.

“It was difficult in the last window and I’m sure it will be difficult in January

“There’s plenty of work going on behind the scenes to see what we can affect and what we need.”

Burnley currently sit ninth in the Premier League table after 11 games, ahead of this weekend’s programme, with the Clarets last to see action, when they travel to West Bromwich Albion for Sky’s Monday Night Football.

And while their positive start to the campaign can’t do any harm in terms of attracting players, any targets have been identified, not taking into account position in the league, but with adding to and building on what is already in place: “It doesn’t work like that here.

“The board are well aware of the challenges and what we need.

“It’s an ongoing process, it’s not just ‘we’re here now, let’s do that’.

“We can’t use that as a short term fix every time a window comes around.

“There has to be a longer term view and continually working to help players develop and the team develop through that

“If we can add to that, we do.”