SEAN Dyche has backed Marvin Sordell to rediscover the attributes that made him an ‘outstanding’ young player when the pair last worked together.

Sordell was a key man in Dyche’s first Watford side, spending seven months under his tutelage before moving to Bolton.

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The Whites paid £3.2million for Sordell, then an England under-21 international, on deadline day in January 2012, but his time at Wanderers was a disaster.

He scored eight times in 29 appearances but struggled to earn a place in either Owen Coyle’s or Dougie Freedman’s sides, and last season spent time on loan at Chartlon Athletic.

The 23-year-old was allowed to link-up with Dyche again this summer, with the Clarets paying just £500,000 for his services, less than a sixth of what Bolton paid Watford two and a half years ago.

The London-born forward, who represented Team GB in the Olympics in 2012, played just over 45 minutes in Saturday’s goalless draw at Crystal Palace, after replacing the injured Danny Ings, and could be set for an extended run in the team if Ings’ hamstring problem rules him out for several weeks.

“Marvin is definitely one under the radar,” said Dyche.

“He’d had a tough time at Bolton and we’re trying to get him to breathe again because I had him as a young player at Watford and he was outstanding.

“He showed signs, it’s just that little bit of belief in himself and it will come, with the work we do with him on the training ground and in the group we’ve got.

“There were some good signs, some good moments from him.”

Sordell improved as the game went on at Selhurst Park, and linked up well with Lukas Jutkiewicz as the Clarets finished the match strongly.

He found the back of the net three times in pre-season, but like Jutkiewicz, Ings and Ashley Barnes, he is yet to score in the Premier League.

Dyche also praised Jutkiewicz, another former Bolton striker, after his performance on Saturday.

The 25-year-old won the late penalty, which was missed by Scott Arfield, and his physical approach caused Scott Dann and Damien Delaney problems all afternoon.

“I thought Juke was outstanding,” added Dyche.

“He was a great foil to play from and I thought he got roughed up a bit and he stood his ground as he does and I thought he was excellent as he was against Manchester United.

“He just needs a goal like all strikers do.”