SEAN Dyche has distanced himself from speculation linking him with the vacant Aston Villa job.

Villa sacked Remi Garde on Tuesday night and lie bottom of the Premier League with relegation looking almost certain.

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Dyche is admired at Villa Park, although the out of work David Moyes and Nigel Pearson are thought to be the frontrunners for the job.

“It’s one of them situations. I’ve had a few over the last year or so,” said Dyche of the links to Midlands club..

“I don’t take it lightly, it’s a paper story. We know how that can work.

“We’re making a good first of what we can achieve here, that’s my focus, it’s the team’s focus, we want to get Burnley in the Premier League.

“There’s a lot of things said, a lot of angles, a lot of connections over nothing. My focus is here.”

Goalkeeper Tom Heaton has also been linked with a move away this week, with Premier League Everton considering a summer move for the England stopper.

But Dyche said: “I’ve had it a lot since I’ve been here. It’s a positive in many ways because other clubs are being linked with your player.

“It’s flattering for all, it means you’re doing a good job, you’re being recognised, whether it's fact or fiction.

“You would expect our players to be linked with different situations because they’re good players.”