SEAN Dyche insists he has faith in his front men, whatever the combination.

Ashley Barnes and Chris Wood started the season but injuries have forced a shake-up of Burnley’s frontline.

Barnes, who opened the campaign with four goals in the first three games, has not played since New Year’s Day and has since had a hernia operation, while 10-goal top scorer Wood went off with a hamstring problem in the first half at Southampton last weekend.

Jay Rodriguez has filled the void left by Barnes to good effect, while Matej Vydra came off the bench to score the winner at St Mary’s - a superb strike from the edge of the area that had Saints stopper Alex McCarthy well beaten.

With Wood doubtful for tomorrow’s visit of AFC Bournemouth, the Czech is in line for his first Premier League start since November 2018.

But despite his lengthy absence from the 11, Dyche hopes the former Watford man can use his starring role against the Saints as a springboard.

“The thing with strikers... they go in and out of those spells when they haven’t scored and they get one and then they get three,” said the Burnley boss.

“There is a thing in strikers where often that happens, and it would be lovely if it does of course.

“If he plays on Saturday it would be lovely if he pops up again.

“But I think part of a striker’s role is that focus to keep doing the right things all the time, and if you keep doing that, don’t be surprised when it goes well for you.”

Dyche also noted that their training methods mean that although the four strikers’ individual styles vary, the team function is largely unaffected by changes up front.

“We don’t have to radically change, we still want to mix the game up, mix the play, there are varying forms of that,” said Dyche.

“They are different, but the gameplan of the side isn’t going to have a radical shift. Players are football-wise, football-bright, so they look at the people they play with and understand different roles and styles, so it doesn’t always have to be prompted by me.

“The thing you’re working towards during the training we do, the varying practices we do, these connections occur, and when they’re called upon to deliver on a matchday, then they can do.

“The hardest thing with strikers is it has to be semi-fluid, as they’re working it out, but you’ve got to guide it as well.

“A lot of strikers I’ve played with and worked with often find their way, and if you prompt them too much, it often takes them off their style.

“I think we guide them enough, but equally step away enough to leave them to go and play.

“For example, last week, I said to Vyds ‘just go and play’. There was no ‘do this, do that’.

“‘Just go and be active, go and play, play your natural game.’And I thought he did.

“This week there’s been a little bit more guidance, but not too much.”

On the injury front, Barnes is progressing well, Wood is ‘touch and go’, Johann Berg Gudmundsson (knee) has returned to full training but Matt Lowton (hamstring) remains sidelined.

Ben Gibson continues to train with former club Middlesbrough.