Burnley boss Sean Dyche has revealed that striker Danny Ings was affected by reports regarding his future in his side's 2-0 defeat to Sunderland last week.
The 22-year-old was linked with several clubs during the transfer window, including Liverpool, and Dyche has admitted that the talk did get to the striker in their loss at the Stadium of Light.
However, he is confident that Ings can put the talk regarding a potential move away from Turf Moor aside for now to focus on their remaining matches this season.
Dyche told Sky Sports News: "I think that's the only game this season where it may have had an effect. Players can just have a quiet day, and I thought he had a quiet day, so it might have been nothing other than that. But, with all the media speculation during that little window, I felt it did affect him slightly.
"But I also said this week he'll have a good week's training, which he is doing, and he'll be ready to go. There are more players at this club than Danny. He's a wonderful talent, I enjoy working with him.
"He's a fantastic lad, I like him as a person and as a footballer, he's learning, he's improving; he'll be ready to go hard and the rest of it will take care of itself."
Ings is out of contract with the Clarets at the end of the season.
Simon Sinclair
