JAMES Tarkowski could have a fight on his hands to reclaim his place in the Burnley side against Liverpool at Turf Moor today.

The centre back is available again after a three-game ban for violent conduct against Brighton, but Kevin Long has impressed in standing in for Tarkowski.

While the former Brentford man is likely to go straight back in alongside Ben Mee, Sean Dyche was full of praise for Long's displays in the last three games, especially in the way he recovered a difficult evening against Tottenham before Christmas.

When it was put to him that Tarkowski wouldn't walk straight back into the team, Dyche said: “Yeah, he's a very good player, but Kevin Long has done fantastically well, particularly mentally.

"You have a tough afternoon against Harry Kane and even though he is a top player, your pride is hurt. You come out of that play at Man U, 2-2, play (against Huddersfield), clean sheet.

"That’s massive growth for a player. I know because I was a centre-half and when you have one of those awkward afternoons, it’s tough to take because you take it personally, you take it all on yourself, to reflect on that, make sense of it, and go again, that’s a big step forward."

Liverpool made their move for the centre back at the top of their Christmas list last week, splashing out £75million on Virgil van Dijk.

That world record fee for a defender has arrived before the January transfer window has even opened and Dyche believes it could have a knock-on effect across the market.

"Of course, it affects the whole market and that’s the downside for the smaller clubs because everyone shifts," the Clarets chief said.

"Every club out there when they see that will decide their centre-half has just shot up in value, almost immediately.

“It’s no different to living down the road. You’ve got your house and someone down the road sells it for £100,000 more than you thought yours was worth. When you then put yours up, you don’t put it on for £100,000 less, do you? It’s no different. It’s just the business side of football.”