BURNLEY manager Sean Dyche believes Joey Barton will continue to improve after the midfielder made his first Clarets start in Friday night’s 2-1 win at Rotherham.

Barton, who moved to Turf Moor in August, impressed at the New York Stadium when he partnered David Jones in the centre of midfield.

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And Dyche is confident there is more to come from Barton as he continues to build his fitness having missed out on pre-season.

“He’s a good player, simple as that, and he will get fitter, sharper, more used to us and how we work, but he’s enjoying his time with us.”

Barton made his first appearance in the home defeat to Reading, and admits he is out on the pitch in a Clarets shirt earlier than he expected, having spent time getting his fitness up to scratch.

He said: “I’m a little bit ahead of schedule, when I first walked into the football club I didn’t think the Reading game would be a realistic target, but fair play to everyone off the field, the fitness staff and the coaching staff have worked incredibly hard with me.

“It’s been a tough process, you’re chomping at the bit because you want to get in the team and start helping your team-mates, but you have to be mindful it’s a long season, the onus is on me to be available for as many of those games as I can.”

Barton has set his sights high with Burnley this term.

“You’d rationally look at it and go through every other side, there’s some very good sides in this league, but you’d have to argue we’ve got as good a manager as anyone, as good a squad as anyone, we train harder than anyone, we’re as together as any team in the league, so really you should win the league,” he said.

“I’ll be disappointed if we don’t win the league this year. That’s what I’ve come here to do.

“I’ve been in this league twice before, I won it with Newcastle and just about scrambled out with QPR. You sort of know what par is for this league and without putting pressure on the team we’re ahead of QPR as a collective unit and in discipline and desire.

“We finished fourth that season, while Newcastle walked away with the league, and I would pitch us in the middle of that.

“I think we’ve got a lot of hard work to do if we’re going to be at the level Newcastle did, which was about 105, 106 points, but that is attainable.”

Of Barton’s performance in the win at Rotherham, Dyche added: “I thought he took up some superb defensive positions when they had a couple of breakaways, and he was there to tidy up.

“He’s had a short time with us so far, he’s been positive in and around the group, and how he’s reacted within the group.

“Time will tell how productive he will be, but with his experience and moments of quality, you can only hedge your bets, and think he’ll have a good time with us.”