It’s about your own team’s focus to drive forward

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Watford boss Javi Gracia makes his first visit to Turf Moor tomorrow as the Clarets take on his team in the first home league game of the season.

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He made seven new signings during the recent transfer window but only one of them, goalkeeper Ben Foster from West Brom, started last week’s 2-0 win against Brighton. He’s delighted with those signings though and said: “From the first day they’ve felt really well. Now we are stronger with the new players; we have more options in different positions. Okay, in the first XI only Ben Foster started last week, but I’m sure in the next weeks we can see the rest of the new players playing with the team.”

Asked about Burnley’s involvement in the Europa League and whether it would affect us, he added: “They have a good squad and I’m sure they won’t have any problem playing three games this week. Yesterday (Thursday) I think they changed the team so I’m sure they will play at the same level as in the other games.

“If you ask me whether I prefer to play three games or two in this period, I’d prefer to play two, but I’m sure they will keep this level and it’ll be a very tough game for us.”

Embed from Getty ImagesSean Dyche certainly has no worries over the availability of his players. “We are always high on the fitness side,” he said. “You could see the players on Thursday night. The mental motivation is already there and has been for a long time, and the group demand is there. They’re all the things that count. The rest of it outside the camp is all noise.

“It’s about your own team’s focus to drive forward, no matter what’s put in front of you. I will be going into Sunday believing these players will go again. They will run hard, play hard and do what they need to do to win a game. The fitness here is unbelievable. The players’ mental strength and physical fitness is absolutely fantastic, so they will be ready for Sunday.”

Southampton featured two forwards last week that Dyche knew well from his time at Burnley; Charlie Austin started the game with Danny Ings coming on as a substitute. Tomorrow it will be similar for him with Troy Deeney, who he managed at Watford likely to partner Andre Gray.

“They are two very good players, players I know well,” he added. “They are another side, like ourselves and a few others, that are looking to develop season on season and try to affect games in a different manner each season to make sure they secure what they want to.”

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