BURNLEY boss Sean Dyche insists the pride he has in his players has never been in doubt, and has never been since he has been at the club.

The Clarets now have two wins on the bounce after beating Wolves 2-0 at Turf Moor and, most recently, winning 3-1 in Bournemouth.

Dyche admitted that this season has been on of the toughest of his managerial career.

The current run has lifted his squad, but Dyche insists his belief in this group of players has never wavered.

“Around Christmas time I was asked about pride, but I’ve been proud of these players ever since I’ve been here," added Dyche.

“This place, from where it was to where it is now, some of these players have been a part of everything we’ve done, while some have joined along the way.

“Never question the pride I have in these players, never question what we’re doing and trying to achieve here. I said that at Christmas, when it wasn’t going well and I was questioned.

“I’ve got fantastic pride in these players. Obviously, that is enhanced when we’re winning games, like everybody would expect.”

After a seventh placed finish and qualification for the Europa League last season, the first half of this current campaign saw the Clarets struggling for consistency in their performances.

Having picked up 24 points since the 5-1 loss to Everton on Boxing Day, Dyche highlighted how he is pleased with the mentality his players have shown.

“There was this weird feeling that it would be an easy season for Burnley in the Premier League, and there was probably only me and my staff who thought this would be a really tough season," said Dyche.

“The Europa League, the market trying to get players in, adjusting players to new challenges, and I’ve been really pleased with the mentality of the players throughout.

“We’ve still got work to do but you see a group of players that are very motivated, and not just to get results. That was a very thorough performance against a very good side. I like Eddie’s teams; I like what they do.

“I think they’ve only been beaten at home four times this season, so we knew it would be a tough game, but I thought we saw it through very well.”

Dyche thinks his side have been unfortunate with injuries this season, but is happy with how the players have seen past that.

“Well, it’s certainly up there, but every season is tough for different reasons," he said.

“But it is tough at the top, we were going down the road of what was almost considered an impossible promotion in my first full season, but we did it. You get near the line and think ‘my goodness, is it just going to start going against us?’ and it didn’t.

“That’s just as tough in a different way, but, of course, when any manager is looking over their shoulder, it is a different scenario.

“But we’re not lacking in toughness. You have to align that with performances though, you can’t luck it out in the Premier League, you might get the odd one, and you can’t tough it out all the time."