DYCHE: I’LL RAISE A GLASS TO PAL CHRIS

SEAN DYCHE admits his big mate Chris Wilder can outdrink him – but he’s hoping Burnley won’t be the ones left with a hangover tomorrow.

Clarets boss Dyche (above) spent many hours on the phone to his Sheffield United counterpart during lockdown, when the conversation would invariably come down to their favourite tipple!

“We chat quite often,” said the Clarets’ boss. “Not so much bouncing football ideas off each other, just chewing the fat over life in the game and some of the challenges we both face.

“It would rarely be tactical stuff, just a case of catching up. It’s the same with Steve Bruce, who I’ll often speak to.

“Obviously, there is sometimes a talking point. During lockdown, we didn’t know which way it was going to go and we’d be asking each other our thoughts on the subject.

“Sometimes, we’d just see who was drinking the most wine – I think Chris won that one by a mile!”

Wilder may beg to differ after the pair met up in Portugal 12 months ago, when the two clubs were preparing for the new campaign.

“We didn’t once talk about football,” said the Blades’ chief. “We just said, ‘Your round, my round, your round, my round!’.”

The pair have known each other since their playing days and Dyche isn’t surprised the United boss (below) is being talked about as a strong contender for Manager of the Year.

“He’s a really good guy,” added the Burnley boss. “He was a good player, who I came up against many times during my career, and he is turning into a very fine manager.

“Every manager deserves credit for what they do because we are all fighting for something different – not many are up there fighting for honours.

“But I must say Chris deserves to be mentioned when it comes to awards. Along with his staff and players, he’s been excellent this season.”

The two men have fashioned teams in their own image and clash at

Turf Moor this weekend, with Burnley and Sheffield United in the hunt for European qualification.

“Chris has a team that is always competitive and works hard – there is a connection between the players and staff and that’s probably what we have got in common,” added Dyche.

“I have enormous respect for him. It is easy in this business to get carried away, but he never does and neither does his team.”