BURNLEY boss Sean Dyche felt Dwight McNeil was ‘caught out’ by the volume of matches in the midweek defeat at Newcastle United.

The wideman was replaced at half time in the 2-0 reverse and the Clarets chief confirmed the teenager was not carrying an injury.

The 19-year-old has started every Burnley game since coming into the side for the win over West Ham at the back end of last year.

And Dyche said: “When you are young the games do catch you out sometimes.

“We wanted him to again because we got him off early on Saturday and we thought the energy would be there.

“I think sometimes it catches the young players out, particularly physically but also mentally because it was a big game on Saturday playing on TV against Tottenham and it was another big game tonight for different reasons.

“He is a fine young player and has done fantastically well.”

“He’s been fantastic, and we did wonder 'can you get that next one out of him?', but he was good Saturday and just found it tough (at Newcastle).”

Ashley Westwood missed the St James Park’ loss through illness but Dyche hopes the midfielder will return for Saturday’s home game with Crystal Palace while Steven Defour and Aaron Lennon remain sidelined.

"I think Westy and Corky have had a tremendous little run together, and the way they've connected, but unfortunately he (Westwood) went down with sickness so we had to get him a car back because we didn't want it going through the camp.

“We got him home this afternoon to give him some more recovery time and hopefully it just a bug that passes quickly. He was in a room on his own thankfully so he was not around the group so hopefully we can contain that.”

Defour, who has not featured in the Premier League since December 1, has seen a specialist in a bid to combat a troublesome calf injury and Dyche admits it is a waiting game with the Belgium international.

“We are just waiting on news of what they are going to,” added the Turf boss. “It is a calf thing and there are a couple of different options so we are just waiting on some clarity on what to do.

“He was seeing one of the specialists (on Tuesday). I will have to wait and see what the specialists’ report is.”

On Lennon the boss added: “He is making really good progress but is not there yet.”