SEAN Dyche is hopeful Burnley will regain some of their missing fluidity when Steven Defour and Robbie Brady return to action.

The Clarets have missed their creative cogs with both players on the way back from serious injuries.

Defour made his first team return in the Carabao Cup against Burton Albion recently, having been out since January, but he missed the draw with Huddersfield to be with his seriously ill dad, who died over the weekend.

Brady hasn't featured since early December and his comeback continues to hit stumbling blocks, with Dyche saying it's 'one day at a time' for the Republic of Ireland winger at the moment as he struggles to put a consistent run of training together.

Burnley haven't the heights of last season so far this term, despite an upturn in results recently, but Dyche is hoping the return of Defour and Brady could provide a spark.

"There were good signs of that (fluidity) last season when they were playing," the Clarets chief said.

"There's no guarantees, when they are back fit - Steven had a personal situation with his family so we wish him well - but we know what both of them are capable of.

"I don't think there's any question on the players playing now, it's just we're climbing back to where we feel we should be.

"We're not there, the work is still going, we're still trying to get there, but it's been a tough start to the season."

Burnley were winless when last month's international break came around and when they opened up this spell of games with a defeat to Wolves they slumped to the foot of the Premier League.

But wins over Bournemouth and Cardiff and a draw with Huddersfield have seen the Clarets climb clear of danger.

Performances remain below last season's standards though and Dyche knows there is more to come from his side, with this two-week break a chance to unlock some of that potential.

"I said the last international break was needed, and this one is as well, clear their heads and minds and let's get going again, get back to it, keep working on the training pitch and keep pushing for the form," he said.

"We've still taken seven points out of nine, that's really pleasing in the Premier League, it's not easy to do.

"I certainly think there's more to come, because we are what we are, we are moving forward, we did last season, obviously, but the start of the next season is a restart.

"There are no guarantees, we have to go and earn the right again, find our path, find the way we play, be effective, but the work we do, the injuries we've got coming back, that definitely helps."

Defour will be back in contention after the international break but the picture remains unclear on Brady, who played 80 minutes for the Under-23s a couple of weeks ago but has since suffered a minor hamstring strain.

"Robbie was only minor, he didn't make the international trip, Martin (O'Neill) was great with that," added Dyche.

"I explained it through, he hasn't had 90 minutes yet, he's been back on the grass the last few days so we'll build him up this week and see where we can get him to.

"It's one day at a time with him at the moment. He's had niggly things, which sometimes happens when you've been out a long time, you're body's not quite as balanced as what it was and has to rebalance.

"His knee injury has been terrific."