SEAN Dyche has been impressed by James Tarkowski’s efforts in training - but admits he is as ‘unfortunate as it gets’ in his battle to force his way into the starting line-up.

The 24-year-old has made just three starts since arriving from Griffin Park 10 months ago, twice filling in for Michael Keane last season and in the EFL Cup defeat to Accrington Stanley in August.

Tarkowski came off the bench before half-time against Manchester City last weekend, impressing in central midfield after Dean Marney had gone off injured, but with last Saturday’s goalscorer set to return at Stoke City tomorrow, Tarkowski could once again find himself on the bench.

Dyche has been delighted with the former Brentford man’s performances when called on, but said he had to be patient behind Michael Keane and Ben Mee.

“He’s a good footballer. He’s probably as unfortunate as it gets in the sense he’s got two players who did fantastically well last season and they’ve continued to that really,” he said.

“He’s a little bit hard done by because I really like what he does in training, I like what he’s about and I think he’s a very good player.”

Tarkowski is primarily a central defender and played there for Oldham and the Bees.

But he has been utilised as a defensive midfielder by Dyche off the bench, and he has shown himself to be comfortable on the ball with a good range of passing.

And the Turf Moor boss believes the Manchester-born man could even fill in at right-back if required this term, as well as providing another option in midfield.

“It’s something we’ve played around with,” Dyche of Tarkowski’s midfield cameos. “There were a couple of games in pre-season he went in there just for little segments.

“At the end of last season at Birmingham away he came on and sat in front of the back four.

“I think he’s a very good footballer as well as a very good defender. Normally those types can work in other areas.

“I could see him at right-back even. You look at (Branislav) Ivanovic and you think with his size and the way he is, who knows. I’m not saying he is, it’s unlikely he’s going to play there, but it’s an option in extreme circumstances.

“Although we have two players for every position, get a few injuries and that can see look really low numbers wise.”

Although Tarkowski might find himself back among the substitutes tomorrow, Dyche said he had to be ready should injuries, suspensions or loss of form crop up.

“That’s for the whole squad, they all need to be ready,” he said. “We’ve changed this season, deliberately of course, we’re learning from two years ago, we know we can flex it if we need to, we can change personnel and there’s a deeper squad than we had two years ago.

“Two years ago the main runners and riders were clear, and you had your best 11. Now the best 11 is much finger margins across the whole group.”