SEAN Dyche insists he has no reason to suspect anything other than a toe injury is keeping James Tarkowski out of the Burnley side.

The defender has been the subject of failed bids by Premier League rivals - two from West Ham United, while Leicester City had a £30million offer rejected last week.

Ever present in the Premier League last season, Tarkowski has not yet played a minute of the fledgling 2020/21 campaign because of a problem toe.

Given that Tarkowski's move to Burnley involved him refusing to play for Brentford in January 2016 - ironically in a Championship match against the Clarets - after the initial bid was made, it is perhaps tempting to read between the lines.

But Dyche is adamant that Tarkowski's absence from the Clarets line-up is genuine.

"I trust my players, I definitely trust him, and he's had a sore toe, and that's the way it goes," said the Burnley boss.

"He's a big fella and if he's got that weight pressing through a toe that's sore and injured, I'm more than happy to trust him with that opinion.

"He was out there (at training) today (Tuesday), we'll wait and see if it reacts tomorrow, before we make a decision, but I trust all my players. No player wants to be injured, I'm sure of that."

It is over four years since Tarkowski was disciplined for his actions by Brentford, who released a statement before their game against the Clarets which read: “James Tarkowski will be the subject of internal disciplinary action after telling head coach Dean Smith that he did not wish to play against Burnley in tonight’s Sky Bet Championship match.

“Following discussions with Smith, Tarkowski declared himself unavailable for the fixture despite being selected in the starting lineup. As a result of these actions, he will be disciplined by the club.

“Any resulting sanction will remain confidential and the club will make no further comment on potential punishment.

“Tarkowski has been the subject of transfer bids during the current January transfer window but none have matched the club’s valuation of the player. In fact, all recent bids have been substantially lower than one that was rejected last year.”

The 27-year-old has been a key player for the Clarets in the Premier League, and earned international recognition. But having been surprisingly overlooked for the last England squad, he has gone on the record as saying he feels his international ambitions would benefit from being at a bigger club.

Dyche is determined to hang on to Tarkowski, but remains mindful that every player has a price.

"Any bids will go in to the chairman and the board, I obviously have a view, he's a very good player, we know that," said the Burnley boss.

"He's a player I definitely want to be here, I've made that quite clear to the powers that be at this club, but on the other hand, there is a reality to every situation.

"Every player around the globe, there will be a reality where clubs make a decision.

"That will be something for the chairman and the board to decide, IF, a bid came in that was appropriate or considered appropriate.

"That would be down to them inevitably, but there's nothing other in my thoughts other than he'll be here."