Break gives Hayen's Burnley a new sense of positivity

Burnley boss Nicky Hayen has said the extended three-week international break has enabled his squad to adopt a positive mindset as they return to Championship action hoping to turn their form around.

The Clarets are without a win this season and missed the chance to head into the international break with a much-needed victory when they conceded a late equaliser against Derby last month.

Burnley's lack of form extends into last season, with their most recent victory in 90 minutes coming against Crystal Palace in February meaning they have now gone 23 games without a win.

"What was positive was that players were playing in the international break for their national team and had positive and successful experiences," Hayen told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"They came back with a different mindset, with lots of energy and positivity and this is also something that I have to bring into the team."

Burnley's relegation from the Premier League came following their winless 13-game run at the end of last season - form they have continued into 2026-27.

Despite this, Hayen said they cannot keep looking at the past if they are to turn their form around.

They face Watford on Saturday (15:00 BST) hoping to move off the bottom of the Championship table.

"From now we just have to look forward and of course we can talk about but it won't help us towards the future so this has to be a new episode for us starting from Saturday," he added.

"We had this window to build and having players back who had the positive experience [we can] work together to have that first win."

Hayen admitted in the aftermath of their draw against Derby that his immediate future at the club could be in doubt, but he said that over the course of the international break - which included a friendly against League Two Oldham Athletic - the feeling amongst his squad has changed.

"We played a friendly game and you saw already that the mindset is changing and that there's another vibe and that's the only thing we need," he said.

"You feel that this club is waiting for that result for a long time and that's the only thing we need to keep going forward and that's what we want to do on Saturday."