Burnley manager Sean Dyche has said that the club need to work out what the next step should be for Watford January transfer target Ben Gibson.

The defender has made only one appearance this season and pushed for a move away in January, with the Hornets having a number of loan offers rebuffed on transfer deadline day.

Earlier this week it was revealed that Gibson had been training with his former club Middlesbrough, following a potential falling out with the club.

Speaking at a press conference today, Dyche did not close the door on the possibility of Gibson returning but did not sound optimistic that would be the case.

"We'll see," he said. "It's one of those situations where we wait to see what the next step is. For us as a club, and equally for him as a player.

"There's a private angle to it, which will remain private, but at this time he's with Middlesbrough, training there to keep fit and stay sharp. He's still a Burnley player, though."

Despite the circumstances, which Dyche described as "unique", the Burnley boss said he does not regret the signing, adding: "All parties come into a situation in good faith and want to be successful. It's just that's not always the case.

"I think there's a reality to everyone's journey in football. Some work like hand in glove, some need work, some take time. Not every player can play, you can only pick 11 players, and it's tough.

"We've got good players here en masse, and we've certainly got and have had very good centre-halves, of which he's one, but he couldn't find a way into the team. Then frustration can build out the back end of that."

A club statement on Wednesday read: "The defender made it clear in the weeks leading up to the end of the January transfer window that he wanted to leave Turf Moor to seek regular first-team football.

"Unfortunately for the player, the club did not receive an offer it felt was acceptable and he remains contracted to the club."

On reports claiming there had been a row between the defender and Dyche's assistant Ian Woan, the boss said: "At this stage the club statement is correct and anything beyond that will remain private to us."