STRIKER Sam Vokes has signed a new three-year deal at Burnley, tying him to the Clarets until 2021.

The Wales international’s existing contract was due to expire at the end of this season.

But manager Sean Dyche was keen to secure the 29-year-old on extended terms - the third new deal the centre forward has signed since initially joining the club from Wolves in the summer of 2012.

Vokes was initially signed by former Burnley boss Eddie Howe, having had something of a nomadic existence through six loan spells from Wolves, including one at Turf Moor the season before he made his move permanent.

But Dyche insists he has found his home at Turf Moor, and has become an important player at the club over the last six years, particularly since the sale of Charlie Austin to QPR in August 2013.

“When I look back, he needed a home and when we got here he was still a bit of a bit-part," explained the Burnley boss.

“We made it clear to him when we sold Charlie, ‘look it’s your chance, you come and be the man now’, and he did to be fair to him and he’s never really looked back.

“Fair play to him, he found a home after playing around at different clubs with different loan spells. Even here he was coming in off the bench a lot under Eddie, he wasn’t starting so often. I know Charlie had done well by the way, but he couldn’t really get a squeeze. Then when we came in and Charlie was sold he kind of grew into what we thought and what he thought, and I don’t think he’s ever really looked back.

"I think he’s definitely on the lines of becoming more rounded as a centre forward.

“His knowledge of the profession, not just on the pitch but off the pitch as well, is at a good level now and he’s at a good age for that."

And Dyche feels that has been enhanced by his international experience with Wales.

"It can only help, and that’s been a number of years now, certainly more or less since I first got here. Once he was recognised in the first promotion season he’s been involved a lot since then."

And Dyche feels Vokes has added a repertoire of goals to his game too.

“His recent header back across goal against Huddersfield, he certainly can attack the ball. But he scored a rocket against Liverpool. I think there are different goals in there, a couple of near post flicks around the corner and stuff like that," said the Burnley boss.

“Also his understanding of the role, I think that’s a key thing for a centre forward.

“Obviously we want them to score goals but understanding of how to create chances for others and bring others into the game, and I think that continues to improve."