SEAN Dyche believes his players are now looking like they belong in the Premier League after growing into life in the top flight.

The Clarets chief said his squad look to have become more assured with themselves in the Premier League from two years ago, and even from the early stages of this campaign.

Burnley won just seven times all season in 2014/15 on their way to relegation, but they've already wracked up nine wins this term to sit 12th in the table after 24 games.

And Dyche is happy with the way his side are entering games with confidence in the Premier League.

"There’s a look about the players that says we understand the Premier League better this time than two years ago," he said. "It doesn’t guarantee anything but it gives a better feel to your group and they have a bit more freedom in how they play, and I’ve recognised that.

"At the start of the season I still think there was that little edge of the game where they were looking and wondering ‘are we right here? Can we win games in the Premier League?’ I think that’s grown over time and that comes with getting results."

A lot of the Burnley squad from two years ago were getting their first taste of Premier League football and Dyche believes the likes of Tom Heaton, Michael Keane, Ben Mee, Scott Arfield, Ashley Barnes and Sam Vokes have developed as a result of that exposure, while a string of home wins this season has given the Clarets even more belief that they can prosper in the top flight.

"We look more assured, there’s a feel within the performances that has grown," said Dyche. "We looked a bit unsure away from home first, we didn’t know what the challenge was like. The last four away games it looks like we’re taking that challenge on.

"There’s a feel about it, the way the players are operating, the way they are around what we do here, in the dressing room before games.

"You get that sense that they’re maturing as players and are more at ease with the challenge. That assuredness helps you understand the level you’re operating at.

"Confidence helps. Even that can grow and once you lock it in, when you go to the next level and you know you can deliver at this level, it’s how many times you can keep jumping forward. The more you deal with it the more you can keep moving forwards."

A lot of Dyche's side have now made the jump to performing at a new level and it is an experience he remembers from his playing days, dropping down from a big club in Nottingham Forest to build again at Chesterfield.

"As a player when I reflect on my career, going from Forest and having a big drop down to Chesterfield, and then having to build and earn your way back up and each time getting a new challenge and can you deliver at that challenge," he said.

"I remember it as a player and I can sense it in the players here that they are beginning to grow again and move forward again."