ASHLEY Barnes has hailed Sean Dyche's decision to commit his long-term future to Burnley as a 'massive boost' after hailing his manager's influence on his own game.

Barnes was Dyche's first cash signing in his five-and-a-quarter years at Turf Moor when he prised him for Brighton for £450,000 in January 2014.

Since then Barnes has contributed 13 Premier League goals and had his first taste of top flight football, so he's delighted to see Dyche sign a four-and-a-half year deal that could take him close to a decade in charge of the club.

"It’s a massive boost for everyone involved in Burnley, the job he’s done here is magnificent and long may it continue," Barnes said of that new deal.

"He’s helped me massively, he's helped each and everyone one of us individually and as a group of lads. It’s what he comes across with and what he implements."

Dyche's new contract was perhaps Burnley's best bit of business in the January transfer window but the Clarets also landed 21-cap England winger Aaron Lennon from Everton.

He made an impact off the bench at Newcastle on Wednesday night on his debut and Barnes said the 30-year-old had settled in well.

"Aaron’s been fantastic since he came in, he's trained for a few days and he’s getting to know the lads a bit more," he said.

"He’s settled in right away."

Lennon brings plenty of experience with him, both on the club and international stage, and Barnes believes he can help the Clarets push to the next level.

"What a career he has had, he’s coming into a group that is striving for bigger and better things and he’s been there and done it, so he'll have a good impact on the group that help get us to the next level," added Barnes.

Burnley face Manchester City at Turf Moor on Saturday and while Barnes is expecting a tough test against the runaway leaders he believes the Clarets get a result if every player is on a good day.

"They’ve been amazing," he said of Pep Guardiola's side. "What they’re doing is fantastic and it will be another tough opponent to come up against but it’s nothing we haven’t faced before.

"Whatever the gaffer's game plan we have to take that on board, but as soon your cross that white line it's a tough game.

"They have fantastic individual players who can create something out of nothing, we have to be alive and switched on for 90 minutes.

"You can’t carry anyone, everyone has to be on top of their game to hopefully get something."