BURNLEY boss Sean Dyche says a decision on Stephen Ward’s Turf Moor future will be taken in due course.

The full back was not involved in the Clarets’ Premier League win over Fulham last weekend but came through an hour in Burnley’s FA Cup win over Barnsley earlier this month.

He also featured for the Clarets in Monday's Lancashire Senior Cup tie with Fleetwood Town, coming through the full 90 minutes.

The Republic of Ireland international is out of contract in the summer although there is a one-year option in the club’s favour.

Dyche was pleased to see the 33-year-old back at full fitness but said any talks over exercising the option in his deal would be held later in the campaign.

“That is not for now, he has been out injured for three months and we will deal with that in due course,” said the Clarets chief, speaking before the weekend win over Fulham.

Dyche feels Ward requires more minutes before he is ready for a Premier League return, hence his inclusion for the Under-23 side in the Senior Cup, but was pleased with the full back’s desire and application against the Tykes.

He said: “It was a big call that one but he is such an experienced pro and he was so clear minded that he said: ‘I’m ready.’ I asked him ‘are you sure? Do you want to have a game (for the Under 23s before Barnsley) and he said ‘no I am fine’ and he played like that to be fair.

“I still think he needs more football to be classed as 100 per cent fit but he is an older pro, if it was a younger pro I would probably have not done. But he is an older mature pro and knows his own body so you have more faith in that just because of his experience.”

The return of Ward, whose last Premier League outing was in the defeat to Fulham in August, will provide competition at left back for the Clarets with Charlie Taylor having stepped in admirably in the Irishman's absence.

Taylor played on the left of midfield against Barnsley and a return for Ward would allow Dyche that option given the injuries effecting his wide players.

Ward joined the Clarets in 2014 and has made more than 100 appearances for the club.