SEAN Dyche insists that no-one's place is guaranteed as he looks to engineer an upturn in form.

The Clarets have suffered nine defeats in 11 - a run which has left them in the Premier League's relegation zone, three points adrift of 17th placed Cardiff City - while they have already conceded more goals after 19 games than they did in the whole of last season.

Goalkeeper Joe Hart and defender Ben Mee are the only ever presents in the side so far, with changes largely enforced on Dyche in an injury-hit campaign.

But the Burnley boss has said he is not afraid to make changes that aren't dictated by absences.

"It’s never in doubt that we look at every player on the pitch," said Dyche.

"There’s very few players this season who have laid down such a strong marker were they’re almost written on the teamsheet every week before it’s even considered. Last season I thought we had a lot of that. That’s the complexities. When the team’s up and down, results are up and down.

"It’s certainly not about one position, it’s about all positions."

Dyche has historically preferred a traditional 4-4-2 line-up but has recently adopted a 3-5-2 formation and added: "We’re shuffling to try and get that mixture, that blend, that can be successful. I think that’s an ongoing thing until people settle into the slots, they find a way that is the way the team works to be effective. We got close to having the full squad available and every time we get there we’ve had injuries, and I don’t think that’s helpful. It’s not an excuse I just don’t think it’s helpful because some of the changes we’ve had to make rather than we’ve made them because we think it’s important. That can be difficult.

"We’ve had situations where we’ve had no wide men available, we’ve had situations where centre-halves have been down with hernias – at one point two centre-halves. There’s been a lot of challenges. Our job is still to navigate our way through that and still find wins. We’ve attempted to do that but we know the second half of the season is quite obviously very, very important."

Dyche had Johann Berg Gudmundsson available on Boxing Day after a hamstring injury but still expects to be without Steven Defour and Robbie Brady for Sunday's visit of West Ham United.

"Johann came on and had no adverse reaction," said the Burnley boss.

"Steven I doubt will make it for the weekend and I doubt Robbie will. They’re getting closer, but I think the game on Sunday might come too soon."

Right back Matt Lowton misses the game to serve a one-match suspension for accumulated bookings.