SEAN Dyche believes Steven Defour is beginning to settle into life as a Burnley player after completing 90 minutes for the second time in the FA Cup win over Sunderland.

The Clarets chief praised Defour’s central midfield display against the Black Cats and said the Belgium international was now showing positive signs of fitting into the system at Turf Moor.

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The 28-year-old, a £7.5million summer signing from Anderlecht, featured in both cup ties against the Black Cats and played on the left of midfield against Southampton in the Premier League last weekend.

He is yet to finish a top flight game he has started for the Clarets but Dyche is pleased with Defour’s progress.

“We’ve attempted to recruit well since we’ve been here, and more often than not we’ve found characters and players who fit what we’re about, or grow to fit,” said Dyche.

“Steven Defour gave another assured performance (against Sunderland).

“He’s beginning to get how we work, the balance - we can still play but from our shape at times, we don’t always dominate the ball, but he’s learning the role of not dominating the ball and how he works in the team. That was on show.

“Some players adapt, and some have a feel of how we play anyway and it’s mine and the coaches’ job, and the players’ responsibility, and we guide them towards it. We’ve done that pretty well over a period of time here.”

Defour is part of a wider battle for places in midfield now, with Joey Barton back at the club and Dean Marney and record signing Jeff Hendrick both impressing this season.

It is a similar situation in attack with Andre Gray, Ashley Barnes and Sam Vokes batting for either one or two places, depending on how Dyche sets up.

Vokes netted his fifth of the season in the cup win over Sunderland, while Gray came off the bench to score his sixth goal this term and Barnes has three to his name.

“It’s certainly helpful,” said Dyche of his competition for places. “You want goals from all over the pitch, which we have done, but it’s fair to say if your strikers are scoring, it’s a big part of a season’s work because it’s hard for everyone to score all the time.

“Vokesy took his his goal superbly well and Andre likewise. There’s a nice fight between the three of them.

“There’s competition all around the pitch, and that competitive element on a training level every day, I think it enhances the group. Playing against better players enhances every player.

“You’re playing against teams with fantastic players from all around the world, so we need competition within ourselves and against the opposition in front of you.

“There’s more depth and it’s a more rounded squad.”