AARON Lennon has worked with some big name managers during his glittering career but he has backed his latest boss to go right to the top.

The former England winger has been working under Sean Dyche since moving to Burnley from Everton in the January transfer window but he is impressed with what he has seen so far.

Lennon, 30, believes Dyche is similar to his former Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino in what he demands from his players.

Pochettino has won plenty of plaudits for his work with Spurs but Lennon sees similarities in his style with that of Dyche, who has guided Burnley to seventh in the Premier League this season with nine games to go.

Dyche works his players hard in training, just as Pochettino does, but Lennon praised the other skills in his armoury as well.

"I had worked hard in the past, and other managers who do work you hard. The likes of Pochettino who is similar," the former Tottenham man said of his early weeks with the Clarets.

"The gaffer made it clear to me that every day is 100 per cent. I wouldn’t say it was an eye opener, but it’s a great mentality.

"For me he is a top top manager. I have only worked for him for five or six weeks but I don’t see why (he couldn't reach Pochettino's level). He has all the attributes like some of the top managers I have worked with.

"He as it all. On both sides of it. Not just what he demands and gets from the players but his personal, man-management skills are up there as well. He’s a top manager."

Dyche looks to have got the best out of Lennon, with the winger producing a starring performance against his former club on Saturday.

He forced Jordan Pickford into a fine second half save, having come close to opening his account for the Clarets against Manchester City in February when he was denied by a brilliant Ederson save.

Lennon has identified an increased return in front of goal as an area he wants to work on, having not scored a competitive goal since netting in a 4-0 Everton win over Yeovil in the EFL Cup in August 2016.

"I should score more. But I am getting in great positions," he said.

"The gaffer is giving me that freedom to get in the box more and get shots off. It’s something I want to work on and I want to get more goals.

"I wouldn’t say it’s a free role. There’s not free roles here! He has given me that attacking freedom to express myself and do what I do best, create chances and score goals."

Lennon has settled into life with Burnley quickly, having come 'very close' to joining the Clarets in the summer.

He believes the squad at Turf Moor is one of the closest he has ever been a part of.

"This is probably the most tightly knitted squad I have ever seen in my whole career," he said.

"You 100 per cent see the benefits on a Saturday, the lads are all working hard. That’s not just on a matchday, that’s every day. It could be snowing, any type of weather, but everyone is working hard. That’s why we are sitting seventh."