GEORGE Boyd is topping the Premier League running charts again this season, but Clarets boss Sean Dyche has refused to be drawn on the winger's contract negotiations.

Boyd is the Premier League player who has covered the furthest distance so far this season, just as he did two years ago, and while Dyche was full of praise for the 31-year-old's approach and fitness levels, he is still yet to sign a deal that will extend his Turf Moor stay beyond the end of the campaign.

He has remained an ever present for the Clarets this season, running 53.8 miles in the process, and Dyche believes his constant desire to be involved in the game is an example to younger players.

"Roughly speaking, I say this to a lot of younger players, games are maybe 95 minutes, ball in play on a high game 58 to 60 minutes, on a lower game 48 to 52 minutes," said the Burnley boss.

"You might have the ball for a minute. So what are you doing for the rest of it?

"You better be active, you better be understanding the game, you better be tactically savvy, making runs where you don’t even get the ball to affect others, you better be making runs to get the ball, defending, getting in your shape, if you’ve got the energy to do all those things and do it well then it’s bound to be a better tool than not having that."

Burnley have developed a reputation under Dyche for being able to outrun the opposition, something the manager believes can give his side an advantage in games.

They are led in that desire to cover the ground by Boyd, although some of the big managerial names who have recently arrived in the Premier League are also driving for an important in fitness levels within their squads.

“One of the big stories of the summer was Pep (Guardiola) has got them fitter, (Antonio) Conte’s got them fitter, (Mauricio) Pochettino over the last few years has been getting them fitter. They’re some of the top boys in the market and they’re getting them fitter.

"It’s a good weapon to have and we’re renowned for being a fit side anyway. For him (Boyd) to be showing the top side of that is fair play to him and good credit to him."

The three-year deal Boyd signed when he joined from Hull at the start of the Clarets' last Premier League season expires this summer and so far he is yet to pen to paper on a new deal.

During the summer Dean Marney, Stephen Ward, Kevin Long, Ben Mee, Ashley Barnes, Sam Vokes, Tom Heaton, Paul Robinson and Aiden O'Neill all signed new deals at Turf Moor, but yesterday Dyche refused to be drawn on whether Boyd was close to following suit.