BURNLEY boss Sean Dyche insists he has no fears about the fitness of Danny Ings.

The top scorer, who grabbed the equaliser in Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Leicester City, sustained another knock to his problem ankle.

Ings managed to see out the game, after taking his season tally to 16 in league and cup with an early second half equaliser to open up a one-point gap at the top before the 3pm games, although QPR’S win at Blackpool saw the Clarets drop down to second spot.

The 21-year-old, who has 18 goals in total, including a brace for England Under 21s in his last international, missed the home draw with Watford earlier this month after taking a bang on his ankle in the previous game against Huddersfield.

But Dyche does not foresee a long-term problem for Ings.

“It’s not bad at all,” said the Burnley boss. “He’s one of the most honest kids I’ve worked with. He’s a fantastic young man. He’s had a minor injury and it’s one that needs care and attention, like any other injury.

“He’s a great lad.

“It’s nothing major, it’s good quality maintenance from the physios and sports science staff.”

And Dyche revealed that he had given midfielder Dean Marney additional recovery time last week, after his hasty return against Bournemouth more than a month ago led to a longer lay-off with a thigh injury.

“We gave Dean Marney and extra period last week, he was desperate to play against Barnsley and I said no,” the Burnley boss explained.

“I made that call because he needed to be 100 per cent after a few weeks out. Ingsy is very similar.

“I don’t force players on a football pitch, that’s for sure.”

Meanwhile, Dyche is expected to come under consideration for the vacant manager’s job at West Brom, after keeping the Clarets at the top of the Championship for a two-month stretch on a shoestring budget.

Burnley led QPR at the top by a point after their lunchtime draw at Leicester, only to be knocked off later that day when Rangers went on to win 2-0 at Blackpool.

But Dyche’s achievements in a record breaking start to the season at Turf Moor have raised the 42-year-old’s profile.

West Brom sacked manager Steve Clarke following Saturday’s defeat at Cardiff.

Sources say the Premier League side are reluctant to pay compensation for Clarke’s successor and are more likely to opt for someone out of work, but cannot rule out Dyche as a candidate.

The Clarets boss, who scooped consecutive manager of the month awards for September and October, has 18 months left on his current contract.