BURNLEY boss Sean Dyche believes Matej Vydra is beginning to develop into a Premier League player with the striker set to start Saturday’s FA Cup fourth round tie at Manchester City.

The frontman, signed from Derby County last summer, has made just two top flight starts for the club this term.

But Dyche has been pleased with the progress the 26-year-old has made since making the step up from the Championship, albeit he had a brief taste of the Premier League in 2013-14.

“Vyds has had a window (in the top flight) a number of years ago when he was younger, at West Brom, fleeting moments,” said Dyche.

“But he’s had three or so years outside the Premier League and we didn’t think it was just throw him on the pitch, we thought there might be an adjustment period, and he continues to work hard to do that.

“That’s all you can ask, to work hard and continue to progress with the club.

“The players have taken ownership of that all through my time here.

“I do enjoy that side of it, but it is tough.

“The demands of the Premier League are getting much higher, they don’t leave you too much breathing space to allow the players a growth period.

“It just says, ‘you’ve got to win some games’, so it is tough.”

Dyche wants to add to his squad in the January transfer window but admits it is tricky to bring in Premier League made players given Burnley’s limited financial power at the top table.

He feels Vydra is an example of adding depth to the squad with the potential to grow into a top flight player, a model that has worked for the Clarets in the past, with the likes of James Tarkowski stepping up, biding his time and taking his chance.

Dyche added: “We don’t bring in players lightly, so if it’s someone we think can aid the ongoing process, that’s to be considered.

“Ideally every manager would get players who just hit the ground running straight away, but in our case, that’s very difficult because of the numbers involved.

“We often have to buy players who develop into the side.

“If you look at the current XI they’re all a version of that, just some we’ve had to pay more for as a start point, and still continue.”