ATTACKING reinforcements; knowing Danny Ings would be leaving Burnley manager Sean Dyche knew he would need them this summer.

But the shopping list has potentially doubled with the disappointing news that Ashley Barnes has already had most of next season written off by a double cruciate knee ligament injury.

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It is a dreadful and excruciating blow to a player who has provided a number of highlights in his debut Premier League campaign, not least his five goals, and would have been looking forward to being a focal point of their forward play when the Clarets plot a return to the top flight next season.

Equally it is a hammer blow to the club, who not only need to replace Ings’ goals anyway, but now also need to find a solution to the void that Barnes’ unfortunate lengthy lay-off creates.

There are already attacking options within the club, of course.

Little has been seen of summer signings Lukas Jutkiewicz, who never managed to reproduce his prolific pre-season form and ultimately lost his place to Barnes in the Premier League campaign, and Marvin Sordell.

But with a year under Dyche’s tutelage and working with existing strikers on a daily basis at their Gawthorpe training headquarters you would expect at least one of them to kick on next season.

Returning from a nine-month lay-off was tough for Wales international striker Sam Vokes.

But a summer break and strong pre-season should help the 21-goal targetman of 2013-14 get back on track and be pivotal in another promotion push.

But, above all that, key to any success the Clarets hope to have is Dyche.

Whatever profit the club makes on Ings’ next move - and any other possible sales bearing in mind Kieran Trippier is a wanted man - must all go to the manager so that he can capitalise on the solid foundations he has established over his two and a half years in charge.

He has worked wonders on a shoestring budget.

He patiently waited six months or so - going through one transfer window - before being able to make his first permanent signing in Tom Heaton - which proved to be a brilliant piece of business given the goalkeeper is now in the England squad.

He was given little to spend in the top flight, yet almost succeeded in keeping Burnley in it regardless.

He has earned the right to flex some financial muscle and see what impact that can have on his side then.

Dyche is Burnley’s best chance of getting back up to the Premier League at the first attempt.

If he isn’t given the resources, then the club runs a grave risk of losing him, and that would be more detrimental than any player departure or injury absence.