Sean Dyche: Peter Crouch has the hunger to make a mark

Burnley manager Sean Dyche has said that Peter Crouch has the hunger to make a mark in the Premier League after making his comeback to the division. The ex-England international had been with Stoke City for the past eight years but he was tempted by the prospect of joining the Clarets after the opportunity came by to return to the top-flight.

Speaking after his arrival, Dyche indicated that the former Liverpool man still has more to offer in the Premier League despite approaching the twilight of his professional career at 38, he said: “He has a hunger to come and make a mark. We know he’s a good character and he still has a desire. The main thing for me is having motivated people. It is difficult to let Sam go, but he hasn’t played as regularly, it could become a win-win situation.”

With Crouch’s arrival, the Clarets agreed to sanction the sale of Sam Vokes in the opposite direction after the Potters agreed to pay an undisclosed fee for the Welshman. The marksman has been a fan favourite with the Lancashire outfit over the years but the club had no concerns regarding the departure after the Welshman himself requested to move elsewhere to command regular gametime.

Burnley are currently just outside of the relegation positions in the Premier League but they are holding a four-point advantage over 18th-placed Cardiff City. The Clarets recently showed their defensive mettle to secure a hard-fought 2-2 draw against Manchester United on the road and it will be interesting to see whether they can replicate the performance when Southampton make the trip to Turf Moor.

Meanwhile, Crouch could feature on the bench during the weekend’s clash against the Saints and his debut may be dependent on the outcome during the course of the game. Chris Wood and Ashley Barnes are expected to lead the attack but Crouch may offer the X-factor from the bench with his height which makes him a threat from set-pieces.