SEAN Dyche hopes the return of key midfielder Dean Marney will lead to an upturn in results for Burnley.

Marney is due to be back in the starting line-up at Arsenal tomorrow, having missed the Clarets’ last four matches because of a hamstring injury.

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The 30-year-old has had a huge influence on the club’s results since the start of last season – Burnley have lost seven and won only two of the 14 matches Marney has missed since August 2013, but have won 27 and lost just six of the 47 matches he has featured in.

The Clarets slipped to the bottom of the Premier League table this week after back to back home defeats and, although a trip to the Emirates will be a particularly tricky task, Dyche hopes Marney’s return will make a difference to his side.

The midfielder narrowly missed out on a return in Sunday’s 3-1 loss to Everton.

“Dean has had a really good week with us,” the Burnley boss said.

“It was my decision more than his last week, he hadn’t had enough training.

“He’d had two days in a month and I didn’t think that was enough, to make sure he’s fit and well and in proper shape.

“This week he has trained and had a good solid week, so he definitely comes back into contention.

“I think like a few he’s been very important over a number of seasons here anyway but certainly in my time here.

“If he’s that person that makes it tick or makes it work even more fluidly, then fantastic.

“It is fair to say that when you’ve got what you feel are stronger players - certainly as strong as the rest if not stronger - coming back, that aids your performances or that’s the idea.

“There’s no absolute guarantee, but he’s earned the right to be thought of as a very good player at this football club.”

Marney is set to resume his central midfield partnership with David Jones, allowing Scott Arfield to move back to the flank.

The Clarets are still seeking their first victory of the season – they are the only side in all four divisions still without a win.

But Dyche says their start to the campaign and their disadvantage financially does not mean their hopes of survival are nil.

“It’s a massive challenge for any club that have got promoted, particularly ourselves, we haven’t got a massive squad of deep experience in the Premier League,” said the boss, who will again be without the injured Steven Reid.

“But everyone thought last year we couldn’t do it with two strikers, we couldn’t do it with only a squad of 18, we couldn’t do it because we played at too high a tempo, we couldn’t do it because the club wasn’t big enough to compete, we couldn’t do it because in January there would be more trouble because you’d get injuries - and we still did it.

“It’s finding a way. I believe in what I do, the staff do and the players do.

“It’s not about proving anyone wrong, it’s about proving ourselves right.

“The obvious story is that we haven’t won in the games we’ve played.

“The next story is who have done what, I believe Derby didn’t win in 13 and still stayed in the Premier League etc etc.

“What we can’t afford to do is overthink what we’re doing, because we need to move forward.

“I use stats myself when I can, so it is what it is. What it does is it gives you the added motivation to go and get wins.

“That’s what it’s about, we’ve never been naive to that. We know we need to win football matches, particularly in the Premier League.”

Dyche admits he does not like seeing his side at the bottom of the table but says no-one should be panicking about it.

“I’ve been down this road before, even as a young manager,” he said.

“I’ve had a spell here where I didn’t win games, I’ve been at Watford when we didn’t win games.

“It’s all part and parcel of the territory, it’s very rare that managers have it comfortable and winning every week for year after year.

“It affects me in the way that my instinct to win, it has been since I was a little kid, most footballers and managers are like that.

“That’s the bit that dents you but it doesn’t break you, it’s just a dent or a knock.

“And it’s a knock that I remind people we all wanted. We’re in the Premier League, Burnley Football Club in the Premier League has still got a nice ring to it.

“Now it’s about moving it forward.”