Sean Dyche is to attend the FAI Cup final in November to check out Shamrock Rovers’ Jack Byrne and Dundalk’s Sean Gannon, Mark McCadden from the Irish Daily Star reports.

The Burnley manager clearly has faith in Irish players as he has bought plenty of them before. Throughout recent years, there’s been a strong contingent from the Emerald Isle with the likes of Kevin Long, Robbie Brady, Jeff Hendrick, Jonathan Walters and Stephen Ward featuring for The Clarets.

All have been great servants for Dyche, so it’s no surprise he’s taking a good look at the League of Ireland’s hottest prospects.

Jack Byrne is one of Ireland’s most exciting prospects. He’s that rare thing, an Irish creative central midfielder with an eye for goal. After giving countless impressive displays in the League of Ireland and Europe he was awarded by Mick McCarthy with his first Ireland cap against Bulgaria last month.

Even though moving to a Premier League club would be a massive career move for Byrne, there are doubts as to whether he would fit in with Burnley’s agricultural style of play. Byrne’s best position is clearly in the hole behind the strikers where his natural talents can try to unlock a defence. It’s doubtful though that Dyche would accommodate him in that role.

It seems the former Manchester City youth player has got his career back on track and he’s enjoying his football again after struggling at clubs like Wigan, Oldham and Kilmarnock.

Speaking to Pundit Arena back March, Byrne said, “I left Man City and signed for Wigan, two or three weeks later the manager was gone. I can’t dwell on these things. It was big for me to leave Man City, I had two years left on my contract but I wanted to show that I was ready for men’s football.

“The gamble didn’t pay off at the time but you just have to reset and take one step back and two steps forward. I’m grateful that I’m back playing well again.”

Sean Gannon has been arguably the most consistent right-back in the League of Ireland over the past five years. The ex-Pats and Shamrock Rovers man has been a mainstay during Dundalk’s recent dominance of Irish club football, winning five League of Ireland titles and two FAI Cup winner’s medals.

With Burnley’s options at right-back including veterans in their 30s like Matthew Lowton and Phil Bardsley, it makes sense that Dyche would be looking for impressive options like Gannon. A player he could attain for a reasonable price.

Stephen Gibbons

Read More About: burnley, Ireland, Jack Byrne, sean dyche, sean gannon