BURNLEY'S European qualification will bring 'nothing but positives' to the club, according to boss Sean Dyche.

The Clarets saw their place in the Europa League confirmed on Saturday night when Everton failed to beat Southampton.

Having been assured of seventh place without playing Dyche's side then slumped to a 5-0 defeat at Arsenal on Sunday, but that can't take the gloss of what the Turf chief describes as a 'massive achievement'.

Burnley will begin their European campaign on July 26 in the second qualifying round of the Europa League and they will need to navigate three ties, with six legs played on consecutive Thursday's from July 26 to August 30 to make the group stage.

But Dyche insists any idea that the competition can be a hindrance to Premier League form is being put on the backburner as Burnley embrace Europe, having been sat in mid-table in the Championship when he came to the club in October 2012.

"You get to the point where we are now, you’re in a European competition, there’s nothing but positives for me," Dyche said.

"We’re open minded about what comes next. We know the challenges, everyone tells you constantly what the challenges are.

"Burnley Football Club playing European football, I don’t think anyone thought that, certainly not five-and-a-half years ago when I got to the club."

Although their initial qualifying round ties are likely to be against some of Europe's lesser known names, the play-off round and group stage could bring glamour to Turf Moor.

But asked if there was a stadium he had his heart set on leading Burnley out in, Dyche said taking charge of European football at Turf Moor would be enough for him.

"I’m not bothered with all that. Who knows until it comes out. There’s that many good stadiums," he said.

"Turf Moor isn’t a bad start, European football at Turf Moor, what’s that all about?

"I’ve come to understand what it means to a town like Burnley. I’m from Kettering, it’s a similar size to Burnley, Kettering nearly went out of business a few years ago.

"A team in the Premier League for Burnley, a town of 75,000 people, that’s amazing, and now a team in Europe."

Burnley are now confirmed of a seventh place finish in the Premier League. With the top six looking like a closed shop at the moment there is significant gravitas in finishing 'best of the rest' and Dyche is delighted to see his team in that position.

"For a club like Burnley to be in Europe in any shape or form is a massive achievement," he said.

"This was beyond what everyone thought of us at the beginning of the season, we were second favourites to go down.

"To have that news confirmed (on Saturday) it was a big marker, a big moment to get done.

"We all know the gap, there is a gap, look at the top six, there is a definite gap. To be considered by the league table the best of the rest is a fine achievement.

"It’s a difficult league, look at the teams fighting for their lives, nobody would have thought that at the beginning of the season, that proves how difficult it is to be in the Premier League firstly.

"We wanted to improve on last season. Could we go better? Well 40 points has turned into 54 points, that’s a big shift."