Clarets have more strength in depth as Dyche looks to rotate

Dyche often struggled for numbers last term, the result of a squad depleted as departing players were not replaced last summer before injuries bit to further reduce his options.

Saturday’s 1-0 loss to Arsenal left Burnley still without a Premier League win this season so it is obvious where Dyche’s priorities lie as he plans his team selection, but there is no question he has better options thanks to the summer signings of Maxwel Cornet, Nathan Collins, and Connor Roberts.

Dyche made six changes for the trip to Newcastle in the previous round – a tie Burnley won on penalties – and is expected to field a similar side with the likes of Collins, Wayne Hennessey, Phil Bardsley, Erik Pieters, Jack Cork, Aaron Lennon and Jay Rodriguez hoping to start against League Two opposition.

“I think we’ve got a better fitness level than last season to make changes,” Dyche said. “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.

“He’s a player who is adapting to what it is to be here, he’s adapting to the Premier League,” Dyche said. “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.

“We go into every game trying to win and there’s never been a lack of edge in our trying,” he said. “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.

Lewis Richardson, who was on the bench in the previous round away to Newcastle, has also been added to the absentee list after picking up an injury while playing for the under-23s.

Josh Brownhill will be assessed after taking a knock in Saturday’s 1-0 home defeat to Arsenal, with Dyche unlikely to want to take any risks as his side remain in search of a first Premier League win this season.

Rochdale manager Robbie Stockdale is also expected to make changes to the side that drew 1-1 at Mansfield on Saturday.

Corey O’Keeffe is available again after being ineligible to face his parent club, while Abraham Odoh, who started in the previous round against Shrewsbury, will hope to come back into the side.

Jeriel Dorsett must be assessed after being withdrawn at half-time on Saturday, when he was replaced by James McNulty.

Sheffield United loanee Sam Graham remains unavailable with a thigh injury.