BURNLEY boss Sean Dyche believes England Under-21 boss Aidy Boothroyd must have been impressed by Clarets star Dwight McNeil's performance against Fulham.

Boothroyd joined England manager Gareth Southgate in the stands at Turf Moor on Saturday to take in Burnley's 2-1 home win over Claudio Ranieri's side.

McNeil made his fourth straight start for the Clarets and continued his impressive form with another bright showing.

The teenager had an 87 per cent passing accuracy while he also delivered more crosses than any other player on the pitch.

The 19-year-old has slotted seamlessly into the Burnley first team and has quickly become a fan favourite with his direct running.

He has been called up twice by England Under-20s but has yet to be capped at any international level, although Dyche feels the Three Lions hierarchy must have been impressed with the wideman.

On what Boothroyd might have made of the winger, Dyche said: "I think he would have thought he was handling himself in the Premier League, he’s seen him in front of his own eyes, that’s a pretty good marker for a young man.

“In the first half he was absolutely outstanding, a number of good crosses. He is learning, improving, a very good young player, and we want him to continue improving.

"The main thing is seeing a young man in the Premier League enjoying his football."

Breaking into the England Under-21 set-up is no easy task given the depth of young talent in the English game with Boothroyd's last starting XI including the likes of Manchester City starlet Phil Foden and Reiss Nelson, who is impressing with Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga on loan from Arsenal.

But the squad also included the likes of Everton's Kieran Dowell, who has started just once in the Premier League for his club, while a number of other players named are playing their football in the Championship.

And McNeil, who joined the Clarets after being released by Manchester United at 14, admits he harbours international ambitions but is prepared to bide his time.

“Let’s see what happens," he said. "That is also one the big steps that I want to achieve."

McNeil was called up by England Under-20 boss Paul Simpson as a training player last October and admitted it was fantastic to be involved in the national set-up at St George's Park.

“It went really well," he said. "I was on standby so it was for me to get used to it really.

"It was good to be around new lads, it really helps you and the training is brilliant.

"You see the senior players coming in as well which is an experience."

Despite his breakthrough into the first team, McNeil is not getting carried away with life as a first-teamer, and still chooses to have his poached eggs on toast breakfast with Steve Stone's Under-23 squad.

He said: "I still go in with the Under-23s in the morning. They were my team at the start of the season. I knock about with them all the time after training so I’m mixing between the two groups really.

"The first team have the same breakfast but they are half an hour after us, so I get in early."