MUCH has been made of the young British talent enjoying regular Premier League football at Burnley this season, but as the battle to survive in the top flight intensifies it is the older heads that could play a crucial part - off the pitch at least.

Matt Taylor, Steven Reid and Stephen Ward arrived at Turf Moor last summer with just under 600 Premier League appearances under their belts.

While they will all be disappointed not to have significantly added to that total, they are returning to fitness at a crucial stage of the season.

Republic of Ireland international Ward is back in the matchday squad after struggles with his ankle, while Taylor, 34, and Reid, 33, both trained this week and are in contention for a return.

While it is nice to have increased numbers available for selection, Dyche admits the trio can help on the training ground and in the dressing room as the Clarets prepare for the seven Premier League games which will decide what division they will be playing their football in next season.

“I like the idea of the experienced lads being around the group. It’s important for them to be around the group,” said the Burnley boss.

“The group is gaining experience naturally, we’re a long way down the line of playing in the Premier League now, so some have benefited from that, but it’s helpful if you’ve got people around who’ve been there before.

“It’s just to have people who’ve been round it before and people who know what it is to be in the Premier League.”

Dyche may have brought the trio in to impart their wisdom on his squad, many of whom are experiencing their first taste of Premier League football, but he insists he doesn’t have to ask them to speak up.

“I don’t have to instruct them to do it,” he said. “They do it naturally. They speak to players, they give their opinion and have a conversation on what it is.

“It’s a natural occurrence of players who have been in it for a number of years chatting with other players, which can be as valuable as coaching sometimes.”

Between them Taylor, Reid and Ward have featured in just 17 Premier League games this season. Taylor hasn’t been involved since suffering an Achilles injury against Manchester United at the end of August, while Ward hasn’t started a league game since December 2 and Reid since September.

Of Taylor’s battle to return to fitness, Dyche said: “It’s a tough one for him because he’s played three games (for the reserves) then in between there’s been days where he had to let it settle so it’s been frustrating more than anything.

“That can happen with an Achilles particularly, they can be awkward injuries which flare up out of nothing.”

During his time at Portsmouth Taylor twice helped Pompey narrowly avoid the drop and he repeated the feat with Bolton Wanderers in 2007/08 and in 2009/10.

Reid was a bit-part figure in the West Brom side which finished one place above the relegation zone last term, while Ward twice helped Wolves beat the odds to avoid the drop.