FORMER Preston striker Kevin Davies has revealed he came close to signing for Burnley before moving to Deepdale in the summer of 2013.

And the 39-year-old, who won the Sir Tom Finney Award in recognition of his career at the Football League Awards on Sunday, said former Chesterfield team-mate Sean Dyche was 'going to go on to great things' in his managerial career.

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"I’m a big admirer of him," Davies said of Burnley boss Dyche.

"I was quite close to signing there before I went to Preston, I had a couple of meetings at the training ground.

"I know the way he works, he’s a bit of old school and a bit of new. I know a lot of his staff and the players are fit, they’re strong and motivated. I’m a big fan of himself and I hope he gets them back in the Premier League."

Dyche spoke on the video shown at the awards in Manchester before Davies was honoured and the former Bolton striker said he would be giving his old team-mate 'a bit of stick for it'.

He added: "He embraces the science. If you can gain that extra per cent to get a result then why not go for it?

"He’s done a cracking job, he’s kept a lot of the squad together and made some cracking signings. People find it easy to come into the squad and settle very quickly with the environment he creates there.

"He works tirelessly and I’m sure he’s going to go on to great things.

"What he did to get Burnley up with the budget they were on two years ago was great. It’s difficult to stay up but if he gets up again they might back him a bit more to spend to try and stay there, it’s a big windfall to get there now and with the resources he can try and get Burnley to establish themselves as a Premier League team."