THE hamstring injury that kept Danny Ings out of action for a month has done him some good, according to Clarets boss Sean Dyche.

After netting 26 goals last season, Ings broke his Premier League duck with a well-taken strike against Everton on Sunday.

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The goal wasn’t enough to stop the Clarets making it nine Premier League games without a win, but Dyche was pleased with how sharp his star striker looked.

Ings suffered the hamstring injury just before half time in the 0-0 draw at Crystal Palace, and missed the subsequent games against Sunderland, West Brom and Leicester, before making his return last week against West Ham.

He started brightly in that game, and could have scored after a good run into the penalty area, but he made no mistake after 20 minutes on Sunday.

After rounding Tim Howard and slotting home for his goal, Ings almost got a second late on, running across the Everton defence to make half a yard for a shot, but this time he clipped his finish over Howard and the crossbar.

“It was fantastic for Ingsy, a very good finish,” said Dyche. “We know we want to play on the front foot, we did, Juke gets turned and a lovely slide, and a fantastic finish – nice clarity to his finish.

“Second half I think he should nick one at the end, after he’s gone through, but it just clipped up on him, but he looked nice and sharp. He’s growing again after a soft start to his season in the Premier League, and getting that injury, which I thought weirdly might do him good, he looks nice and sharp. He’s got himself on the scoresheet.”

Ings’ goal means he is the first of Burnley’s five strikers to score a Premier League goal, although they have started only 17 top flight games between them.

While Sam Vokes remains sidelined with an anterior cruciate ligament injury, the remaining four all played some part against the Toffees, with Ings and Jutkiewicz starting, while Ashley Barnes came on after 65 minutes and Marvin Sordell for the final six minutes.

“I think all the strikers need goals,” said Dyche. “Juke is working hard, he’s trying to get one to land for him. He’s working to get a chance. Barnesey comes on, a bit of rough and tumble, a different way of playing. Marvin got on the pitch. We have to keep believing it will come.”

Ings is out of contract at the end of the season and last week Dyche confirmed that the club were in ongoing talks with the Southampton-born England Under 21 international and his agent.