Defour contract will '˜look after itself'

The Belgium midfielder started every Premier League game until the end of January, when a knee problem required surgery.

Defour has another year remaining on his deal, with a further year’s option, in favour of Burnley.

There is interest in Defour, according to his representative Christian Pala, from Premier League clubs, but Dyche said: “Steven’s in good shape. Simple as that. I just focus on what people are telling me. I speak to Steven, and he’s in a really good place at the minute. He’s going really well.

“He really can’t wait to get back on the grass training. And hopefully the way he’s going, next pre-season, he’ll be up and running roughly at the same time as we are. That’s not guaranteed, we haven’t done a date yet, but imagine that the beginning of July is roughly where it starts, he’ll be there or thereabouts, we hope, the way he’s going. And that’s what his focus is on. The rest of it will look after itself.”