SEAN Dyche is not surprised by the scintillating form of Romelu Lukaku after revealing he tried to sign Everton talisman years ago.

The Clarets boss was in charge of Watford when he made enquiries about the Belgian striker, who was at the time rising through the ranks at Chelsea.

But he says he got short shrift from then Blues boss Roberto Di Matteo, with the Italian backing Lukaku to be a star on the European stage.

The 23-year-old striker is the Premier League’s top marksman with 23 so far this campaign.

And he has rediscovered his lethal form just in time for the visit of Burnley to Goodison Park tomorrow, ending a two-match barren spell with a double against Leicester City last weekend.

Lukaku has been crucial to Everton’s success this season but he has turned down a new deal on Merseyside and looks set to leave this summer, with Chelsea reportedly lining up a £70million swoop.

That move would put him in line to face Europe’s best, and it’s something Dyche says Di Matteo predicted five years ago.

The Clarets chief said: “I remember at Watford ringing Robbie about him.

“He just laughed and said, ‘He’s a Champions League player’

“I said, ‘Okay, he’ll not be coming to Watford then!’.

“Looking at him as a young lad when he first arrived I thought he looked a handful then.

“But he’s more than that. He can play, he’s a physical handful but he’s a fine player – no two ways about it.”

Lukaku is set to keep Burnley’s centre-halves Michael Keane and Ben Mee occupied tomorrow afternoon, but Dyche insists Ronald Koeman’s side have threats from other areas of the pitch.

“Everton are not just about Lukaku,” he added. “He’s a massive focal point, we know that, with his goals. But there’s more to Everton that him.

“You can’t make your whole team’s performance about that player.

“You’ve got to understand there are good players around him and there is that awareness here (of that).”

Koeman’s side are seventh in the table going in to tomorrow’s match, level on points with Arsenal and vying for a Europa League spot.

The Dutchman is attempting a blue revolution on Merseyside, with plans for a new stadium and money to spend on strengthening the squad from owner Farhad Moshiri.

Dyche says Everton have got better as the season has progressed and points to their solid home form, with 11 of their 15 wins coming at Goodison, as key to that improvement.

And he insists his players will be fully aware of the challenge they face in trying to reverse that trend, and in doing so claim the Clarets’ first win on the road.

“With the exposure these days, our players often know as much as anyone about opponents – what makes them play well,” he said.

“We only enhance that with more detailed work but they will be well aware, they’re not stupid.

“They know Everton are a good side and it’s not just about having a good centre-forward.

“They have adapted slowly but surely as the season has gone on and they are certainly in a rich vein of form at home.

“When you look across their team, a couple of younger lads have done well lately, but they are a very experienced side. They have got people who have been around the Premier League for a long, long time, and now a sprinkling of youth, which is pleasing to see at any club.

“They are well rehearsed in the Premier League, they know what’s what and are still trying to get on the back of the big slots at the top.”