SEAN Dyche was delighted that his 'crystal ball' decision to leave Dwight McNeil on paid off in Burnley’s win over Wolves.

The Clarets boss has revealed that staff were suggesting removing the rising star as the home side found themselves on the back foot in the second half on Saturday.

But after Conor Coady’s own goal from McNeil’s free-kick had handed Dyche’s men the early initiative they needed a goal from the 19-year-old on 77 minutes to secure a much-needed 2-0 win.

“I was leaving him on because I knew he was going to score,” said the Burnley boss. “It was like a crystal ball moment where you say ‘he’ll score, definitely’.

“I said to my staff ‘what are you doing? Don’t be ridiculous. Leave him on’. I’ve got that intuition!

“It was more of a physical thing at the time. It was a tough second half where we had to stay tuned in.

“They’re a good side, they had a lot of the ball, they changed their shape slightly but without looking too much in trouble we never quite got to grips with it possession-wise.

“Then just before Dwight’s goal we found 10 or 11 passes and got a little feel for the game again.

“I know what quality he has got and that moment, I’ve seen him do it so many times in training.

“Once he’s cutting in, once he’s driving at someone, he gets them on the back foot and it’s a fantastic finish. I’m really pleased for him, he continues to learn and he’s got to learn

because it’s tough.

“It happens to us in the Premier League when we don’t have as much of the ball.”

Another standout display completed a fine few days for McNeil who had trained with Gareth Southgate’s senior England squad during the international break before making his debut for the Three Lions’ Under 20s.

“It’s been a really good week for him,” Dyche

said.

“He got a little taste with Gareth and his lads while with the Under 20s and he’s come back and got an assist and a goal.

“I’m really pleased for him.”

Overall, Dyche is delighted with the progress the teenager is making as his big breakthrough at Turf Moor continues.

In all McNeil has made 19 appearances with two goals in his last two games taking him to three in total.

“It’s his first half-a-season but he’s going very well,” the Clarets’

manager said.

“Myself and my staff were looking at him earlier on in the season and it was all about the timing of it. I thought the freshness of a young player was needed when I changed it.

“He’s definitely played his part in how we’ve started to turn things around.

“When you’re young like him, fearless in his thinking in a tough situation and pulling out things that work in games, that shows the talent and strength in mentality that he’s got.

“That will grow as long as he keeps working hard, which he will do. “He’ll grow, he’ll mature and I hope he’ll carry on progressing because he is some player for a 19-year-old.”