BURNLEY manager Sean Dyche admitted the absence of a loan window has proved to be one of the biggest challenges of the Premier League, particularly with an injury-hit squad.

The Clarets boss made 10 signings after winning promotion as runners up to today’s opponents Leicester City, including two deadline day loan moves for Chelsea midfielder Nathaniel Chalobah and young Manchester United defender Michael Keane.

In previous campaigns as manager he has been able make short-term signings after each transfer window has closed.

But that option is not available to teams in the top flight.

And with Burnley suffering a spate of injuries, wiping out their central midfield corps, he says it is posing a challenge to ‘make do and mend’.

“That’s why it was important to build a squad. We’ve attempted to round off a squad with the finance available and we’ve done that, pretty much,” said Dyche.

“If I’m honest, the one key area that we tried to affect and couldn’t quite get the one we wanted on numerous occasions was central midfield, because that is a key area in the sense of you do tend to pick up a few injuries there over a longer period.

Regular midfield duo David Jones and Dean Marney both missed last Sunday’s 4-0 defeat at West Brom through injury and are both likely to be ruled out today.

Chalobah was in line for his full debut for the Clarets, but suffered a freak throat injury during the second half of the Under 21s Premier League Cup defeat to Hull City on Tuesday.

“Nathaniel would play but unfortunately he can’t,” said Dyche, who played Steven Reid in a holding midfield role at the Hawthorns in a change to his 4-4-2 formation.

“Jonah and Marns have been a go-to pair and done ever so well, Scotty Arfield’s come into there sometimes.

“It is going to be changing the tactics to still get out a format and a team that can deliver.”

After going through most of their promotion season injury-free Dyche admitted being down to the bare bones of his squad was new territory. But he insisted his backroom team were working hard and is expecting to boast an almost clean bill of health after the two-week international break, barring long-term casualty Sam Vokes.

“The sports science team are looking after the players, both their physical and mental welfare because injuries can affect people because they’re over-thinking it,” said the Burnley boss.

“We give them all the support we can, dietary support for example, which feeds the body and helps it mend.

“Sometimes it’s just time. In Vokesy’s case he’s going along fantastically well, it is just time, re-aligning the muscle memory I’m told.”