STEPHEN Ward made his Burnley return for the Under-23s yesterday and Sean Dyche admits he faces a selection headache given the good form of Charlie Taylor.

Ireland international Ward played 72 minutes of the 3-0 defeat at Huddersfield for Michael Duff’s side as he continues his comeback from a knee injury picked up in mid-December.

In his absence Taylor has shone in his first exposure to Premier League football and the former Leeds United left-back impressed with a man-of-the-match display against Manchester City on Saturday.

The 24-year-old has yet to be on the winning side in any of his nine top flight starts but has performed admirably and that form could present Dyche with a selection quandary at left back, although he admitted Ward’s form over the past 18 months could see him forge ahead.

“He’s laid down a lot of markers over the past few years,” Dyche said of Ward.

“But Charlie’s going well. Charlie came into a really tough run of games. Your first run in the Premier League, playing five out of the top six, twice with Manchester United, twice with Manchester City.

“That’s a hell of a run to come into, and I think he’s more than held his own. He’ll grow from these experiences.

“But it’s still great to have your players back. That’s another starting point, if you can get players back, then we get a healthier group to pick the team from.”

Dyche was singing the praises of Taylor earlier in the season when the £4.8millon summer signing was having to make do with appearances in the Carabao Cup.

But since replacing Ward in the first half of the 1-0 win over Stoke on December 12 he has impressed and Dyche believes the former Leeds man can continue to improve in the same way that Ward has since his move to Turf Moor.

“I think there’s more to come. I really do,” the Clarets chief said of Taylor.

“I’ve always thought that with Wardy. Unfortunately Wardy got injured because I think he was delivering a fine early part of the season before his injury. And even at his age, I’ve always encouraged him that there’s more to come.

“You’re becoming a more rounded player. Defenders, I always think, mature differently. I was probably at my best in terms of game knowledge, and I ran out of legs. When I finished I was at my highest level in terms of on-field game knowledge and then you just run out of energy.

“With centre-halves, defenders in general, and goalkeepers, you want them to be in the right place at the right time, and position is a big part of it. They mature as time goes on, and I think Charlie will do that. Wardy’s done that. Charlie will do that.

“Wardy’s done that this season, I think. He’s really jumped on again with his performances. It was a knock to us for him to get injured when he did.”