BURNLEY may be closing in a top-seven finish in the Premier League but Sean Dyche insists he’ll be taking nothing for granted going into the 2018/19 season.

A look back at last year’s table highlights how precarious life in the top flight can be, with the current bottom three of Southampton, West Brom and Stoke City finishing eighth, 10th and 13th last term.

Dyche takes Burnley to the Bet365 Stadium on Sunday to face a Stoke side in dire need of points to boost their flagging survival bid, but he doesn’t believe the troubles of those clubs act as a warning to his own team.

“There’s no warning, it’s an ongoing challenge for a number of clubs. I don’t think because we have a season like this it guarantees next season, absolutely not,” Dyche said.

“It’s going to be a constant search for improvement for us, if you’re improving your squad it gives you a better chance of improving next year.

“The Premier League doesn’t just sit there and wait for you. You have to keep up with it, keep looking to recruit and future proof by getting players in that can mould into the future.”

Dyche has often spoken of how difficult life in the Premier League is and he believes this season highlights that.

The current bottom three all enjoyed respectable seasons at worst last term before crashing back to earth in 2017/18.

“The Premier League is tough, and this year is showing that,” he said.

“I don’t think anyone would have put those three clubs in the bottom three at the beginning of the season.

“Nobody has magic dust, the miracle answer to saying ‘we’ll be a Premier League club’ every year.

“It’s a story of be careful what you wish for. Some clubs think ‘we’re a bit bored with being eighth’.

“I’d take eighth every year for the next 10 years at Burnley. Not because I’m a defeatist, but being eighth in the Premier League is big news, it’s very difficult.

“Be careful what you wish for, because once it starts going the wrong way it’s very hard to pull it back.”