STATISTICALLY under Sean Dyche Burnley have often ended the season better than they have started it.

In the year they bounced straight back to the Premier League in 2016, the Clarets did not lose a Championship game after Boxing Day. In securing a second successive top flight season in 2018, they put together a crucial five-game winning run across March and April. In overcoming a difficult start amid playing European football for the first time in half a century they went on an eight-game unbeaten run, later winning three on the spin, to live to fight another day in the Premier League.

And the Burnley boss is seeing signs of that pattern being mirrored this season too.

After emerging from lockdown to lose only twice in the remaining nine games last season, the Clarets were slow out of the traps when the 2020/21 season began just a few short weeks and limited preparation later.

Indeed, their first win did not come until November 23, at home to Crystal Palace, when Chris Wood's early goal was enough to separate the teams.

Since then their form has been more favourable, with two draws, one defeat and another win - away to Arsenal no less - last time out.

After seeing players dropping like flies over the summer months in particular, Dyche feels it is no coincidence that a reduction in those requiring the treatment room is having a positive effect now.

"We have been unfortunate with the amount of injuries and I would hope and suggest that statistically that is unlikely to continue all season but you never know and we have to be ready for that if it does," said the Burnley boss, who has seen progress for Jack Cork, Dale Stephens and Phil Bardsley on the comeback trail as the three played for Burnley's Under 23s this week.

"We’ve always finished very strong physically. And in the busy Christmas period that high fitness level helps, especially if we’ve got all the players fit. And we’re beginning to get to that stage."

But Dyche feels it is the overall focus on maximising match fitness rather than just players returning to fitness that is key to their strength in the second half of campaigns.

"Statistically we’ve seen benefits of the fitness work and the regimes we’ve put in place – the prep work if you like - in the second half of the season," Dyche explained.

"I look at it as wanting to optimise your physical performance, because results are not easy to come by.

"But over a season if you can maximise your physical potential it increases your chances of getting results. Those results might be indifferent at times, but from a physical standpoint I know how strong we are."

That is why the busy festive period does not fill Dyche with dread.

"For me, when the games come closer together the big thing is the fitness of the side, and that’s looking really, really good. There was a very high physical output down at Arsenal," said the Burnley boss.

"Everyone knows how fit our players are. And I know statistically how strong we are in the second half of a season – not just by results but in terms of our physicality."