Burnley midfielder Jeff Hendrick has admitted that not needing to play in the Europa League is helping his side.

The Clarets struggled last season as they had to cope with additional European games.

It caused them to have a very poor start to the season, which lead to a relegation battle for much of the campaign.

But they have started brighter this term, and Hendrick thinks he knows why.

"We've progressed but I think last year was a bit different," the midfielder told reporters.

"I know it was frustrating for us as players and maybe the fans, staff and everyone.

"At the start of the season, with the games we had, it was difficult, it was tiring.

"I was talking to my friend at Wolves when we played them and I said, 'How are you getting on with the European football?' and he just said he's constantly tired.

"Without even knowing, the travelling does take it out of you and that's what happened with us last year.

"Even when we were out of that, we tried to pick the performances up, but it didn't work.

"Eventually we sat down, we all got on the same track and the performances started to pick up and we got some points on the board, which we did need at the back end of last year."