BURNLEY boss Sean Dyche was pleased with the way his side performed with three strikers on the pitch on Saturday – and he believes there is more to come from Sam Vokes.

Dyche made a surprise decision to field Vokes, Danny Ings and Ashley Barnes in the same starting line-up against Premier League champions Manchester City, but it paid dividends as the Clarets recorded a shock 1-0 win.

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Barnes had previously been used as an out and out centre forward for Burnley, apart from occasionally in the latter stages of games when the Clarets were chasing a goal.

But this time he operated from the left flank from the start as Burnley stuck to their usual 4-4-2 formation.

It meant that Vokes came in for his first league start since making his return from injury.

“We wanted a goal threat and felt Ashley had played there many times at Brighton, coming off the left,” Dyche said.

“We know he works and plays hard for the team, and it worked reasonably well.

“We wanted Vokesy to come back and be full on, ready to play, and he certainly looks closer, although there’s more to come.”

Dyche may now stick with the trio for Burnley’s trip to Southampton on Saturday.

“All the tactical nuances of what we do, when we win, it’s a good decision, if you don’t, it’s rubbish,” he said.

“It’s only the outcome that changes it, it could be a good decision even if you lost. It’s just deemed it’s not. I think we’ve been pretty brave in how we’ve gone about it. We were again on Saturday.

“People make a lot of the 4-4-2, it always implies it’s archaic.

“I think there’s a lot of flexibility in the way we play, it’s only a format to go and play from.”

Dyche also made a change in defence as 37-year-old Michael Duff returned in place of Michael Keane. Duff helped Burnley to a clean sheet.

“Keano has done absolutely smashing,” Dyche said. “He’s a young player who is going to improve and be a big, big player.

“Part of his development is going in and playing, coming out, having a look at it and moving forwards.

“He will definitely do that. You can only pick 11.”