SEAN Dyche will come up against one of his first signings as a manager today - and a player he credits with helping to save his managerial career.

Dyche signed midfielder Jonathan Hogg for Watford from Aston Villa in August 2011, at the start of his only season in charge at Vicarage Road.

It was a baptism of fire in the dugout for Dyche, with the Hornets losing seven of his first 13 league games, but he cites Hogg as one of the players who helped turnaround Watford's fortunes that season as they went on to finish 11th in the league.

It wasn't enough to save Dyche from the chop when new owners took charge, but he had impressed enough to earn a shot at the Burnley job in October 2012 and the rest is glorious history for Dyche and the Clarets.

"(He's) brilliant, love Hoggy, without some of his performances, I might not have still been in a job," Dyche said of the midfielder who left Watford for Huddersfield in July 2013.

"There were a few players there who absolutely stood up to the challenge, we lost seven of the first 13 I think, and he played a big part in making sure we turned everything round and only lost seven of the next 33.

"I've a lot of time for him as a lad, and he was tremendous for me, I'm delighted he's gone on and done well for himself."

The diminutive Hogg played 40 league games for Dyche as part of 80 appearances in total for Watford.

Since moving to the Terriers he has made 133 appearances, starting the Carabao Cup defeat at Crystal Palace in midweek and playing the last eight minutes of Huddersfield's 1-1 draw with Leicester City in their last Premier League outing.

“At the time it was a big signing for us, it looks mad now, it was £300,000 or something, we brought in £5-odd million and spent about £900,000," Dyche said of his decision to sign Hogg.

"He was a big chunk of that but he did very well for us, really good signing, really solid lad and a good pro, who did brilliant to come through injuries early in his career, he did both of his knees, but he's fit as you like.

“Now and again me and Woany get a text from him, a real good lad."