SEAN Dyche has paid tribute to the ‘big part’ that Danny Ings played in Burnley’s rise to the Premier League — after publicly confirming that the striker is set to leave Turf Moor this summer.

Ings’ imminent Clarets exit has been football’s worst kept secret for some time, with both Dyche and the player reluctant to confirm a departure that has been on the cards for at least a year.

Ings played what will turn out to be his last home game for Burnley in Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Stoke City and Dyche has now acknowledged that the forward will leave when his contract expires this summer.

The 22-year-old has opted against signing a new deal and is expected to join Liverpool, whose manager Brendan Rodgers described Ings as ‘a terrific young player’ on Friday.

Dyche spoke glowingly about the impact CONTINUED: PAGE 19 that Ings has made at Turf Moor - topping the club’s scoring charts both on the way to promotion and in the Premier League this season.

“It’s been good to see his development,” Dyche said.

“It looks like that’s not going to continue with us but I think we’ve played a big part in how he’s moved forward.

“He’s played a big part equally, he’s helped with his contribution to the side and this football club. “He’s been a big part of the last two seasons.”

Ings was hit by injuries in his first two years at Turf Moor and only became the Clarets’ star man once Charlie Austin was sold to QPR at the start of last season.

Dyche said: “When I got here he was a developing player. He was learning and improving, but there was a lot of work to be done from our point of view as a staff with him.

“He’s moved forwards with it, and that’s all you can ask with players. You can guide them but it starts with them as individuals.

“He’s been accepting of the information and he’s moved a long, long way in how he goes about his performances and how he’s learned about himself as a person.”

On the subject of whether Saturday was Ings’ final game at Turf Moor, Dyche said: “It’s probable that was a farewell from Danny.

“The sounds coming out of him and his agent make it probable that he will be going elsewhere.

“There is a kind of message coming out that they will be looking for pastures new.

“That sometimes happens in football and every player has the right to run their contract down if they want to.”

Ings was given a fine reception from the Burnley fans after Saturday’s game but has revealed that decision to run his contract down recently resulted in a minority of supporters venting their anger at him.

“I had to turn my Twitter notifications off for a while as I got a small minority of people sending me some abusive tweets,” said the forward, who ended a 10-match goal drought with a winner at Hull a week ago.

“That did upset me a little bit because of everything this club means to me and what we’ve been through together.

“But at the same time I understand and I appreciate the fans’ frustration.

“I completely understand where some people are coming from when a little bit of form drops and the confidence dips a little bit.

“They’re expected to get on your back sometimes because they want you to do better for the club they love and the team.

“Not for one minute of this season though have I not been committed to performing for this football club, regardless of my contract situation.

“Everyone who knows me personally and people around the club know that I give 100 per cent for the team and for the fans.

“I came here as an 18-year-old boy and the first two years were extremely tough with injuries.

“Since then, every year I’ve grown more and more into a man and I can’t thank Burnley Football Club enough for everything they’ve done for me.”