SEAN Dyche has hailed Steven Defour’s ‘strength of character’ and he believes the Belgian’s mettle will rub off on others in his Clarets squad.

The 28-year-old has made a bright start to his Turf Moor career after a £7.5million move from Anderlecht in August.

The midfielder had a tough time back in his native Belgium when he joined Anderlecht from Porto two years ago, with fans of his current club unhappy with his links to their rivals Standard Liege, where he began his career and won two league titles.

Standard fans were also furious that he had signed for their arch-rivals and he was subjected to vicious abuse from them, including a banner which depicted his severed head under the slogan ‘Red or Dead’, when the two sides played.

As well as praising Defour’s quality on the ball, Dyche also believes that experience in Belgium has strengthened him.

“He’s a good technician, it’s why we brought him here. He can deliver, pass and break up the play,” said the Clarets chief.

“He’s got a calmness to him and that extra belief from playing for Belgium, playing in big games, under tough circumstances sometimes when he moved to Anderlecht from Liege.

“It gives you a strength, and he’s got a strength of character, and strength to have the ball, want it and receive it, and that rubs off on others.”

Since his move to Turf Moor Defour has been involved in four of the five goals Burnley have scored.

He found the back of the net with a superb solo effort against Hull City and has set up three other goals, including both in the win over Watford.

His arrival, and that of fellow midfielder Jeff Hendrick, has also led Dyche to switching to a three-man midfield, and it a change in shape that Defour has thrived in.

Asked if the Belgian, who has 49 caps for his country and was an unused substitute in their 4-0 win over Bosnia on Friday night, had added something to the Burnley squad that they didn’t have in the Premier League campaign of two years ago, Dyche said: “He has so far.

“He’s learning, he’s adapting and he’s getting used to the Premier League and the fitness levels required.

“He’s a good player, else we wouldn’t have brought him here, maybe he’d been overlooked a bit. I knew a bit about him and my scouts went and watched him and we thought he can fit what we do but add more to what we do and that was the idea.

“Jeff’s another in, as is Johann (Berg Gudmundsson), they’ve all been brought in for a reason. We’re not in a position to sign players, move them on and build a squad of 30, so every player we bring in is important.”