SEAN Dyche is confident there is more to come from Danny Ings, and believes that his international experience can only enhance the striker’s football education.

Although the Clarets boss will be without his top scorer for a few days next week following another call-up, he welcomed the opportunity for the striker to gain further recognition with the England Under 21s.

“Should he be involved? Absolutely. Does he deserve it? Absolutely. Do I hope he continues his rich vein of form? Absolutely,” said Dyche.

“His performances have made it quite clear what a good player he is, and he is a very good player.

“I think his development is ongoing and I think he’s shown great signs of what a player he is now but what a player he can become, because I think there’s more to come.

“He’s still learning but he’s very receptive to the information that me and the staff give to him.”

Ings goes into tomorrow’s key promotion contest with third-placed Derby County as one half of a 42-goal partnership that has fired Burnley up to second.

Having scored 24 of them, it is hard to imagine him not playing with a smile on his face in a season that can already go down as a personal success – even though there is still some way to go.

But Dyche admitted he has had to cajole one of the Championship’s most feared marksmen into getting maximum enjoyment out of his football.

“He’s very conscientious – almost too conscientious at times,” said the Burnley boss.

“He’s still got a real demand on himself but he’s learnt to smile a bit more, which I like, and soften the demand and demand at the right times.”

Two previous long-term injury lay-offs have perhaps played their part in a furrowed brow forming. Ings takes nothing for granted.

But Dyche says it is all part of a learning curve for the striker, and one that feels he is still on in management.

And he is hoping to take tips from County counterpart Steve McClaren tomorrow, albeit after planning to teach Derby a lesson.

“He’s a fantastically experienced coach and manager,” said Dyche of the former England boss, and one-time right hand man to Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United. “

After the event I’ll definitely be trying to get five or 10 minutes with him – whatever I can – because I’m always intrigued to listen to these managers and see what they’ve got to say.

“Some are more open than others.

“Obviously some keep things to themselves, some share openly what their thoughts are but I’ve always got respect for managers young and old because I know how hard this business is.

“After the event I’ll certainly be looking to pick his brains.”

Derby have cantered up the table since McClaren took the reins from Nigel Clough, but Dyche felt the squad was always capable of having their say in the promotion shake-up.

“I’ve got to be honest I think they were a good side anyway.

“Another change of manager, whether it was warranted or not they can decide that - but Steve’s brought in his own thinking like most managers do, he’ll have twisted it and tweaked it and given his opinion to the team for what he thinks is important and they’ve become a real good side.

“I didn’t think they weren’t a good side, but I think he’s sharpened them possibly.

“They’ve got a good goalscorer, and we’ve got a couple ourselves.

“They’re a good side for sure.

“They’ve added to their group over the last five years, first with Nigel (Clough) and then Steve coming in. They’ve kept adding and kept adding.

“They’ve got a strong group and a group that’s been together a little bit now.

“We’re always aware of the opposition, but we know what we’re about and that’s what we’ll be focusing on.”