PREMIER - Burnley boss Dyche honours Boyd's retirement

Commenting upon League Cup round-of-16 game, just lost to Tottenham, and upon former Burnley winger George Boyd's retirement, Clarets manager, Sean Dyche, stated:

“I was pleased with the decision to leave Ben (Mee) out of Southampton because he had only one day’s training, then bring him in last night. He slotted in and played well. I think those extra days of training actually helped him and it was great he came through unscathed. He is certainly going to be back in the thinking for Saturday’s game.

Ideally Connor (Roberts) would have had more game time, but he is a good athlete and I thought he adapted very well last night. He enjoyed playing and is certainly a player we are looking forward to developing – he will keep pushing. Management is about having those tough, but good, decisions when everyone is fit. That is why you build squads.

We have got a very competitive group, there are some fine margins now between certain positions, and you want that to simulate the group. They have an openness to the challenge, and I think they are using that wisely. But I don’t underestimate anyone who gets to the Premier League, trust me. If you’re in the Premier League, you deserve the right to be there.

We know they are in a healthy place, but no game is easy in this league. And we’re in a good place ourselves, I wouldn’t underestimate where we are, because I know the group. The general level of performance is strong statistically, as well. But our focus hasn’t lost sight of the fact we need to win.

George Boyd deserves a mention without a shadow of a doubt. He was a fantastic professional and had a fantastic career. He is a top fella as well. He was a record fee at the time when he came to us, but what a pro. One of the fittest players I have ever seen, and demanding of himself physically. One of his shining moments, the obvious one I think was the winning goal against Manchester City (March 2015) – a fantastic finish. He was a great person to have around the club”.