ANDRE Gray has described fellow striker Rouwen Hennings as “technically one of the best” players the club has got.

The duo were put together as an opening partnership for the first time this season for Saturday’s 1-1 draw at home to Brighton, after manager Sean Dyche took the decision to give Sam Vokes’ groin injury additional rest.

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Gray was on the scoresheet for the fourth consecutive home game to earn the point, with Hennings denied his first goal for the Clarets following a good save by David Stockdale.

And Burnley’s top scorer feels that Hennings just needs to get off the mark for Clarets fans to see the best of him.

“It’s always the way with strikers - once they get that one goal they’ll go on a run. The keeper’s made a great save and unfortunately for Rouwen he couldn’t get that goal,” said former Brentford striker Gray, who has 11 for the season - nine with Burnley.

“He’s technically one of the best in the squad and we see that quality day in, day out.

 “As soon as he gets time out on the pitch he’ll shine a bit more. At the same time I think he’s still adapting to English football. I think with every game he plays he’s just going to get better.

“You can see his quality but sometimes, with the way we play, it’s difficult for both of us. I’m sure if he plays more we’ll get a partnership going like I do with Longy (Chris Long) and Vokesy.”

Gray has been paired with Vokes the most this season - 11 times in total, yielding 10 goals between them since the record signings August move.

They have developed a good understanding, and without Vokes alongside Gray says he has had to adapt his game.

“You’ve got to adapt and it’s not always going to be pretty where you’re getting in behind all the time,” said the 24-year-old, whose role became more that of creator against the Seagulls on Saturday, after his equalising spot kick.

“Creating for others is part of my game so if I’m not scoring I need to try to assist. Unfortunately Scotty’s (Arfield) went just wide. It was so close and I thought it was going in from where I was but it’s just one of those things.

“There were a few other close chances but it was a good point in the end.”

Gray added that having the opposition defence focus on him was encouraging him to think of new ways to foil them.

“I might have to be scoring from crosses or penalties and tap ins. It’s not always going to be from a through ball and a one-on-one so I’m adapting,” he said.