FRANK Lampard believes Sean Dyche deserves ‘huge credit’ for the job he has done at Turf Moor.

The Manchester City midfielder had kind words for the Burnley boss, who used to work with Lampard’s dad at Watford.

Lampard also backed Clarets’ top scorer Danny Ings for an England call as he showered Burnley with praise ahead of the meeting between the two teams at Turf Moor later this afternoon.

It will be only the second time Lampard has played at the ground, but the 36-year-old is full of respect for the club.

“I played there with Chelsea just once and beat them 1-0 so the record is good in that respect,” he said.

“Burnley is a very traditional, homely club and the sort we all respect from the outside.

“Whatever happens at the end of the season, Sean Dyche will come out with huge credit because to hardly spend any money on a team who has just come up with the way they’ve played and fought deserves recognition.

“I’ve never met Sean – he was at Watford and our paths never crossed for some reason but I have a lot of respect for him because of the way he’s handled himself this season.

“They’ve given it a real go this season and there is a family connection because my dad used to work with Sean Dyche at Watford when he was the Under-18s coach and he has a lot of respect for Sean.”

While City are still hoping to close the gap on league leaders Chelsea, Burnley are in need of points to pull themselves back out of the relegation zone, having fallen to 19th with 10 games to go.

But Lampard, a veteran of over 600 Premier League games, is convinced they can still survive in the top flight, and he was impressed with the way the Clarets fought back from 2-0 down at the Etihad in December to claim a point.

“I think they can definitely stay up – there are a big group of clubs around them and their desire is second to none and we’ve all heard the stories about them running more miles than anyone else this season during games,” he said.

“They’re a very strong unit – they showed that earlier in the season when they came from 2-0 down to earn a draw with us and it won’t be for the want of trying if they don’t stay up – they’ve got as good a chance of anyone, though.

“Sometimes you have to hold your hands up – the quality they showed on the day, particularly the front two, gave us a difficult afternoon.

“Going somewhere where you’re not expected to get a result at - and then to find yourself 2-0 down at half-time - can almost be as good as game over, so fair play to them.”

Lampard knows a thing or two about performing on the international stage, having won 106 England caps, and he thinks 22-year-old Ings has what it takes to make Roy Hodgson’s senior squad.

“We’re all aware of Danny Ings who established himself last year by scoring goal after goal and he’s come up and proved himself in the Premier League and is very young, too,” he said. “He and Ashley Barnes were very strong against us on the day.

“Ings could definitely play for England. He’s played regularly for Burnley this season, looked sharp and scored goals and we’re not exactly flush with great forwards in England at the moment so he’s definitely given himself a chance.”