SEAN Dyche once again pointed to the lack of investment in his Burnley squad after the Clarets were brought crashing back down to earth by Manchester City.

The Turf Moor men have taken time to grow into the season, picking up their first Premier League win of the campaign at the eighth time of asking against Crystal Palace.

But that already seems a distant memory for the Clarets as they lost 5-0 at the Etihad Stadium for the fourth visit running on Saturday.

The result leaves Dyche’s side in the bottom three having finished 10th last time around after they finished a coronavirus-interrupted campaign strongly in the summer.

Brighton midfielder Dale Stephens and Wolves goalkeeper Will Norris were the only first-team additions in the summer with a number of significant injuries stretching the squad further in the opening weeks of the new season.

A takeover is in the offing at Turf Moor but it all adds up to a difficult picture for Dyche, who will look to pick his side up when Everton come to town on Saturday lunchtime.

“Every year for me and the club is a restart,” the Burnley boss said.

“There are no guarantees in the Premier League but every year to you want to build and enhance your chances.

“Last season we finished 10th but we were stretched. I didn’t think for one minute our form over the last nine games was going to continue, not because I thought they weren’t capable but because when you get that many injuries it is bound to affect you.

“We haven’t put the resources in, we know that. That has been a challenge.

“You have to recruit well, you have to invest. We haven’t done that. It makes the challenge more difficult. When you add in injuries it makes it even more difficult.

“It has been a difficult battle every year. There is no easy ride in the Premier League. I know the challenge. There is a balance in knowing what the team can do. This one got away from us. That can happen.”