Burnley manager Sean Dyche has laughed off claims from former Bristol City teammate Soren Andersen that he used to eat worms on the training ground.

Andersen made the claim earlier this week, suggesting that the Northamptonshire native's strange eating habits were perhaps behind his trademark gravelly voice.

Dyche insists that it was simply a training-ground trick of his, however, adding the worm story to a list of other possible explanations for his grisly tones.

"I also smoke exhaust pipes - that's what makes my voice like this," he told reporters at his weekly press conference. "I have gravel for breakfast, that was another thing.

"Those three combined, that's what I use to keep this voice sounding how it is. But no it's fair to say I didn't actually eat the worms. It was a bit of banter where you get a nice, big juicy worm hanging out the edge of your mouth as if you're chewing it.

"Of course the worm comes out and you wash your mouth out with water! For the record I definitely don't eat worms, although Bear Grylls would probably be happy with me, a little worm omelette."

Dyche's Burnley side return to action on Saturday afternoon with a home match against Manchester United.