Sean Dyche said: “I think we’ve got a better fitness level than last season to make changes. We’ve got players who need games for the right reasons who will figure. We need to make sure we’re sharp. We want to put out a side who can win a game. That’s an important factor. We won at Newcastle, we had to work very hard for that and got through on penalties but it was a side I felt could win that game, and we will put out a side tomorrow night that’s capable. Being competitive comes from performances. If players are playing at the top of their game, I think I could put out any 11 that could win the game, but you’ve got to make sure they’re playing at that level. But yes, I think we’ve got a bit of a better depth to our squad now and the quality.”
Cornet was the headline signing of the summer as the Ivory Coast international joined from Lyon late in the transfer window. The versatile 24-year-old made his debut in Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Arsenal and could feature again to aid his integration, but Dyche urged patience when it came to expectations placed on the player.
Sean Dyche said: “He’s a player who is adapting to what it is to be here, he’s adapting to the Premier League. Physically he found it tough in the period he was on, that comes with the pace of the Premier League. But he’s a player who has talent, who can affect the situation going forwards but he’s also a player where we’ve got to find the moments when he’s physically right as well as having the understanding to play in the Premier League.”
A win for Burnley would be their first at Turf Moor since January. Dyche insisted he was not concerned where his side picked up results, but he is confident recent performances will be rewarded sooner rather than later.
Sean Dyche said: “We go into every game trying to win and there’s never been a lack of edge in our trying. In the Premier League it’s tough to win games. We know how to do it, we’ve not done it so far, but we will do. We like the energy the crowd did bring on Saturday, they were firmly behind the team and the players responded to that. I thought the players responded but we’ve got to turn those strong performances into wins.”
Burnley will be without Roberts, Kevin Long and Dale Stephens for the visit of the League Two side.