Burnley boss Vincent Kompany believes Jay Rodriguez would have played for one of the top sides in English football had it not been for injuries.

Despite missing the start of the season, Rodriguez has already scored eight league goals – a total no player in the division can better.

Nathan Tella and Josh Brownhill have also had prolific starts to the campaign, and Kompany is pleased his side have shared the goals around.

“I want the goals to be shared around the squad - I think that is important. Everybody has chipped it,” he said.

“Jay Rod is a special player. He is a player who no doubt if it wasn’t for his injuries, he would have played for a top four or top six club in England.

“That quality never goes, and he is fit so I think he is happy as well.”

Kompany’s side are currently top of the Championship table, having lost just one game since he took charge at Turf Moor.

But the Clarets chief insists his goals have not changed and believes there is still more to come from the squad.

He added: “I think managing expectations is always going back to what we anticipated at the start of the season.

“It can’t just change because you have had a good run of games. You always hope to win every game that is ahead of you, but at the start of the season we were just looking to avoid the worst-case scenario.

“We were looking to avoid a Sunderland and re-build in time and be consistently among the top six teams.

“That goal hasn’t changed but then there is an ambition within the club to win every game, and that makes it quite easy.”

Burnley will make a late call on Republic of Ireland international Josh Cullen, who missed Tuesday night’s win against Norwich.

Summer signing Scott Twine has not featured since the opening day, while Ashley Westwood and Darko Churlinov are long-term absences.

"Twine is steady on, he is making good progress. There is nothing worrying in there, it is just annoying,” the manager explained.

“Darko and Westy are making very, very good progress. Things are going in the right direction. My ideal would be to recover everyone just before the World Cup break."

Reading make the trip to East Lancashire at the weekend, and Kompany is expecting another tough test.

Paul Ince’s side are currently eighth in the table, just one point off the play-off places following a promising start to the campaign.

“They will have the energy to be compact and sit in, they defend very well. (They are) a team that has got experienced players who are able to decide a game at any given time.

“They have really done well this season and I am sure the manager will have prepared them really well for this game.”