BURNLEY boss Sean Dyche said the decision to award a new contract to Dwight McNeil was an easy one given the teenager's form.

The wideman has profited from injuries to Aaron Lennon and Johann Berg Gudmundsson and Robbie Brady's suspension to claim a spot in the starting XI.

The 19-year-old has hit the ground running for the Clarets, scoring against West Ham and retaining his place for the subsequent five games.

He looks set to keep his place for the trip to Manchester United tonight, a club McNeil spent time with as a youngster before joining Burnley aged 14.

The winger's new deal keeps him at Turf Moor until the summer of 2023 and replaces his previous contract which had 18 months to run.

And Dyche said he felt the Academy graduate's performance merited fresh terms,

Asked how important it was to tie down McNeil, the Clarets boss said: "I think sometimes the word important can swiftly become earned.

"I think he has earned it, he has done very well.

"He has been in and around us from about this time last season, travelled with us a number of times.

"He came into pre-season and was around everything we have done and in the early season."

McNeil had started just one Premier League game, in the reverse fixture against United, prior to his appearance in the home win over West Ham in late December.

And Dyche said he felt the time was right to blood the teenager.

"When you have Robbie, Johann and Aaron, they are three recognised players who have done a bit in their time so Dwight was sitting behind that.

"He was learning and looking and joining in training and training hard.

When I felt it was appropriate I put him in. I think I have a good gauge for when players are right and ready to play, whether it is coming back to fitness or ready as in young players and I think my staff have as well.

"I knew he was a player. I just smelt it on him that he was ready. I have been around enough footballers to have an instinct that they are ready.

"The staff are very important because I say to them 'are you seeing this because I am and I am feeling it' and they agree and we put him in which is ultimately my decision.

"My decision was to put him in at that time and I think he has done very nicely although he still has a long way to go."