MICHAEL Duff is with the first team coaching staff during Burnley’s Cork training camp as a stand-in for Tony Loughlan.

First-team coach Loughlan is recovering from the effects of hip surgery and the 48-year-old is missing the start of pre-season.

Duff stood in for him during the first week of pre-season at the Barnfield Training Centre last week and is now with Sean Dyche, assistant manager Ian Woan and goalkeeping coach Billy Mercer in the south of Ireland.

Since calling time on his playing career two years ago Duff has joined the coaching ranks at Turf Moor, spending his first season in charge of the under-18s before progressing to the under-23s last term.

And Dyche believes spending time in the first team environment will benefit former Northern Ireland man Duff.

“I have spoken many times about my belief in development, not just in the players but with the staff and myself and the continuous learning curves we’re on,” said the Clarets chief.

“To bring Duffo in for a while to have a look at it and get used to it, when he reverts back into that under-23 group he will have a better feel and a better understanding of how that connects, and I think that’s important.”

Loughlan was part of Dyche’s coaching staff, with Woan, at Watford. He underwent surgery earlier this summer but his return to the club has been delayed.

“Tony had a hip operation in the summer. Unfortunately, he had a reaction to it and has had to have some minor surgery to clear up some problems with it,” Dyche said.

“We were hoping he would be back on the grass and going quite well now but he’s been delayed with that, so Duffo has just stepped up a little bit to support the group while Tony is getting back fit.

“But he’s recovering well, I spoke to him again (on Monday), and hopefully it will be sooner rather than later when he’s back in with us and certainly able to get on the grass.”