BURNLEY boss Sean Dyche believes he now has a squad that can cope with the demands of the Premier League.

The Clarets chief believes the increased competition for places in his side, and the options available on the bench, allow him to not only change things tactically but to also take a horses for courses approach to games.

Dyche takes Burnley to West Brom on Monday night with a variety of options up his sleeve. The trip to The Hawthorns two years ago was the only time Burnley played a three-man midfield in the 2014/15 Premier League campaign, but it came as a result of injuries and exposed the then lack of depth in the squad.

But following two years of steady recruitment the Clarets travel to the Midlands this time around well versed in a 4-4-2 or a 4-5-1.

And they also have options for starting spots, something Dyche believes is a lesson learnt from two seasons ago.

“I’ve mentioned many times that we’ve got to learn from the last time. I don’t like harping on about it but you’ve got to move forward from that,” he said.

“Even myself as a manager. Can we be more flexible tactically? We’ve already shown that.

“Can we be more flexible with players within the tactics? So this player might suit that game a little more, like with Barnesy last time out (against Crystal Palace), that was my decision after speaking with the staff.

“He fitted with what we needed on that occasion, on another occasion it could be he starts or (Andre) Gray starts. That’s where we’ve got more depth.

“Everyone knows I don’t like rotating for the sake of it, but we’ve got more options for the nuances and the little twists that can occur.”

Burnley were beaten 4-0 at West Brom in 2014 when Steven Reid, Ross Wallace and Scott Arfield played in the centre of midfield, with Lukas Jutkiewicz up front on his own.

The squad strength has improved since then and Dyche is pleased to see the competition he now has for places, highlighted by last season’s top scorer Gray remaining on the bench throughout the win over Crystal Palace two weeks ago.

“I don’t think that game (against West Brom in 2014/15) is relevant but I think the squad is more rounded now compared to two years ago,” added Dyche.

“I think we’ve got a bit depth, not in Premier League standards but in our club standards more depth and competition for more or less every place, which is by design.

“General depth is nowhere near Premier League clubs, they are carrying vast playing squads. Ours is relevant for what we need I think, the squad is more solid looking and there is more competition for every place, rather than competition for just a few.

“You have outside competition which is teams trying to beat you, but your inside competition is playing well because you know you have someone working hard to get you out of the team.”