BURNLEY boss Sean Dyche has welcomed the end of international ties till March, but refused today to use the interrupted start to the season as an excuse for his side’s slow start.

Not even a quarter of the 2020-21 top-flight campaign has been completed but there have already been two international breaks, perhaps disrupting clubs in their efforts to build up a head of steam.

It will now be four months until the international calendar resumes, allowing Burnley to fully focus on their predicament. They have claimed just two points from seven matches ahead of the visit of Crystal Palace today.

“It does give us a focus on what we need to clear our minds to and the task in front of us,” Dyche said in his pre-match press conference.

“But that hasn’t been lacking. I think there are other things that have got in the way of our form, but we do have to take responsibility for what comes next, including myself of course.

“It does give us the clear view to get on with our workload and then take it into the games, supply the performances that can get us results.”