"It's been a difficult battle every year," says Burnley boss Sean Dyche

The Burnley boss described every term as a 'restart' for the club given the impending battle it faced to compete at that level year-on-year.

The Clarets have entered a fifth successive term in the top flight and, low and behold, six defeats from nine has left them with another difficult fight on their hands.

This is Burnley's worst start in the PL since their return in 2014, when they had a point fewer at this stage having played a game more.

Burnley, who had their slow start punished with relegation that season, are currently second from bottom with five points heading into Saturday's game at home to Everton.

Dyche suggested that the scrap was just as demanding every season, regardless of the number of points on the board, even when they had clocked up 16 points at this point three years ago.

"We've been down this road before," he said. "It's been a difficult battle every year. We finished seventh in a very difficult season, we finished 10th last year, which was another very difficult season.

"We got it over the line a couple of times when finishing 15th and 16th, and it was still difficult. There is no easy ride in the Premier League, it's as simple as that.

"Every year for me and the club is a restart because we don't always put the resources in. There are no guarantees, but every year you want to build and enhance your capability to stay in the Premier League as a minimum."

After a fourth successive 5-0 defeat at the hands of Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium, the Clarets will have to roll their sleeves up and tough it out once again.

Dyche, though, given the circumstances, suggested that their latest crusade could be one of the most challenging yet.

A lack of recruitment on the playing side coupled with another spate of injuries has left Dyche's squad looking a little bit thin on the ground.

"Last season we were 10th but we were as stretched as you'd like," said the Turf Moor chief. "I didn't suggest for one minute that the form was going to continue into this season because when you get that many injuries it's bound to affect you.

"We haven't put the resources in, we know that, so that has been a challenge. We were nearly there with the players, aside from Corky, who is a bit more long term.

"Then, unbelievably, we get another four injuries this week so we're stretched again. Hopefully they're not too serious, hopefully there'll be a chance for these players to get fit for next week, and that will definitely benefit us."

He added: "You've got to recruit well, you've got to invest, we haven't done that, which makes the challenge even more difficult, and then you add in the injuries. There's a reality to it.

"It takes finance and that's always been tricky at Burnley. The financial side has never been free-flowing. The window in January is tough anyway when trying to get the right players in and the right quality and players that fit our model.

"We've got a different financial model to most in the Premier League, which is a challenge in itself.

"I'm planning on working with this group because they'll be very important until January, when we might get changes, but I'm focusing on working with them beyond that until I'm told differently."