WEST Ham boss Slaven Bilic has backed Sean Dyche as a future England manager as he prepares to bring his side to Turf Moor this weekend.

Bilic has been impressed with the job Dyche has done with Burnley and praised their start to the season, with the Clarets currently sixth in the Premier League ahead of Saturday's clash.

That bright start includes an unbeaten away run incorporating games at Chelsea, Tottenham, Liverpool and Everton, and Bilic believes that is a run more reminiscent of Manchester United than the Clarets.

"They are doing extremely well home and away," the Hammers boss said.

"You can see them play and being braver with the ball and on the ball. They kept the core of the team but if you compare the team from the first game of last season, they have five new players.

"(Sean Dyche) is definitely a good manager. Does their start surprise me? Yes, it did, especially their away form because last year they waited until March or whenever to beat Crystal Palace away and get that first away win.

"If you ask which team has beat Chelsea and Everton and drawn against Spurs and Liverpool and didn't know it was them, you would say Manchester United and not Burnley.

"It's a big achievement and it did surprise me, but they now have experience of the Premier League and have confidence and play with more bravery and more freedom when they have the ball, but they didn't lose the steeliness and compactness that is still the core of their philosophy.

"They are a very good team and all the credit goes to Sean Dyche."

Asked if Dyche could one day manage England, Bilic added: "Why not, definitely.

"It is always good for the national team to have a domestic manager. It is not a club - you have to understand the whole nation and the culture, the history, the legacy, the expectations.

"He is definitely one of them that has it. He is young, he looks strong and he's got that voice! I'm joking, but he is doing a really good job.

"Last year his success was a bit underrated and he is still at Burnley, which makes it easier in a daily job because you can afford some bad games.

"But on the other hand it makes it harder to get that ultimate recognition."