Burnley boss Sean Dyche has piled the praise on midfield pair Jack Cork and Steven Defour after claiming the duo have helped change the way the team play.

The Clarets were once again relegation candidates at the start of the season but Dyche’s troops have worked hard to climb into the top 10.

Burnley are seventh in the Premier League table after 10 games but a change in system as helped them kick on.

The former Watford boss has used a three-man midfield and Cork and Defour have been at the heart of their improvements this season.

Speaking about the duo, Dyche told the Lancashire Telegraph: “They’ve helped, we want to keep adjusting it, not going a million miles away from what we’re about.

“We’re not saying we’re trying to play like Barcelona or Real. But we’re trying to add to another string to our bow.

Can we find different ways of operating to affect the game? “There’s been some signs of that and those two have played a part without a shadow of a doubt, because they can both deal with the ball and they’re on line with the format of the team.”

Burnley’s new approach will put Southampton under pressure this weekend but the difficult trip to the south coast will not be easy.

The Clarets are the outsiders for the game but they can be backed at odds of 3.10 to score first at St Mary’s, while they are priced at 5.25 to win the first half during Saturday’s game.