SEAN Dyche has hailed Nick Pope's 'very healthy' start to his Premier League career as the Clarets goalkeeper continues to impress in the absence of Tom Heaton.

Pope was handed his chance this season when Heaton dislocated his shoulder against Crystal Palace in September and the 25-year-old has grabbed it with both hands.

After shutting out Palace for the 55 minutes he was on the pitch Pope has since kept seven clean sheets in 13 league starts. It's a remarkable record for a goalkeeper who had never played in the top flight before September.

Pope's path to Turf Moor was similar to Heaton's, with Dyche snapping up both men after they'd been relegated from the Championship, Heaton with Bristol City and Pope with Charlton.

“Tom was relegated when I signed him, got slaughtered for it, my first signing here," Dyche said.

“You’ve got to have belief in the people you’re looking at, sometimes goalies can learn a lot from that experience, when you’re getting peppered. The main thing about Tom was I knew him and saw him, a keeper giving everything to keep a clean sheet every week, and not, getting loads of goals put past him, but every week going about his business - ‘I am going to keep a clean sheet’.

“You could see it in his performances."

Dyche saw similarities in Pope's displays for the Addicks and he also had plenty of non-league experience, with Bury Town and various loan spells away from The Valley.

He had to be patient for his opportunity at Turf Moor and was third choice for most of last season behind Paul Robinson, before stepping up to the bench in the final weeks of the campaign.

Robinson's decision to hang up his gloves this summer paved the way for Pope to become outright number two.

“He’s been out and done the lower league, the hours, put a shift in. He’s put a shift in this year," Dyche said of Pope.

“We had to talk him through it, when he first came he wasn’t even on the bench, he was behind Robbo and Tom, and I said he’d learn a lot before he got a chance.

“Then last season at the end, Robbo stepped aside, like the fantastic pro he is, and then Popey started to come though, to get a feel. When he finally gets a chance, he’s confident, I’m confident in him, and he’s performed.

“And he’s got a group in front of him who’ll give everything to win a game.

“There’s a long way to go but he’s made a very healthy start to his career at this level."