CLARETS hero Sam Vokes hailed the culture Sean Dyche has instilled at Turf Moor and hopes the Burnley boss hasn’t taken charge of his last game at the club.

Vokes came off the bench to head the winner against boyhood club Southampton, making it two wins in a row for the Clarets and taking them to 19 points after 11 games.

The win saw Dyche’s stock soar further and he continues to be linked with the managerial vacancy at Everton, with the Toffees set to appoint a new boss during the international break.

Vokes will be away with Wales this fortnight but hopes the man who steered Burnley to a 93rd win under his stewardship but will still be in charge when the Clarets return action against Swansea in two weeks.

“The gaffer deserves the recognition he’s got, he’s done brilliantly in the five years he’s been here,” said Vokes, who was at Burnley when Dyche arrived.

“It’s what happens, the big clubs come looking. He’s doing a great job with us so I hope he’s here when I get back (from Wales).

“It is a culture (that he’s set), it’s something all the lads buy into. You see it day in and day out, we work hard, we’re a close unit, a great bunch of lads and that comes from the top.”

Dyche kept Burnley in the top flight for the first time in more than four decades last season and they have started this term quickly.

And Vokes said the transformation of the club under Dyche was clear.

“Our status as a Premier League club is there to see, and it’s not just on the pitch it’s off it,” the 28-year-old added.

“You look at the club and it’s changed, the training ground, the facilities, we’re a proper Premier League team now and you feel it every day coming into work.

“It’s part and parcel of football. It’s always going to happen, if you’re doing well you’re going to be linked with places.

“We come in every day and get on with our job, we can’t affect that situation.”

Vokes hopes Burnley’s advanced position in the table compared to Everton’s early season struggles could keep Dyche in East Lancashire, but if the worst does happen he believes the Clarets have a squad that can sustain their start.

“You look at the table and you see where we are. The table doesn’t lie at this point,” he said. “But it’s ifs and buts, the gaffer has been fantastic here.

“I think the squad we’ve got here is strong enough to sustain it.”

Vokes’ winner at St Mary’s was particularly sweet for the Southampton-born striker. His dad Tim is a season ticket holder and Vokes admitted he had celebrated near his dad’s usual seat after his late header beat Fraser Forster.

“I went and celebrated over in the corner where he sits in the Saints end, I’m sure he’ll be having a word with me,” he added.