Daily Mirror

DYCHE: I’M PICKING SECOND-STRING SIDE & FANS WILL BE FINE WITH IT

- BY TIMOTHY ABRAHAM

BURNLEY boss Sean Dyche insists the club’s supporters understand why he has to pick a weakened team for their FA Cup clash with Manchester City. Dyche will ring the changes for the third-round tie with Pep Guardiola’s side, following a hectic festive period which has left him with an injury-hit squad. The Clarets will be backed by 7,600 fans at the Etihad, and Dyche reckons the majority will realise why he may leave out some of their top performers.

“I think the fans may be more understand­ing of that approach than the media suggests,” the manager (left) said.

“Our decision is by necessity, we have no choice. The players, the bulk of them, have played two games in three days. I would love to have gone there fully equipped.

“In pure business terms the welfare of the club revolves around being in the Premier League. Fact.

“Anything else is a bonus. But it doesn’t mean that, as a player when you get on that pitch, you don’t want to win. It doesn’t affect that.

“But the finance and kudos of the Premier League, and what it means to this area, goes way beyond that.”

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