AFTER being installed as the bookmakers early favourite to take over at Burnley following the sacking of manager Sean Dyche, Middlesbrough boss Chris Wilder heaped praise on his managerial counterpart on the day he watched his side draw 0-0 with Bournemouth.

Wilder, who has only been in charge at Boro since November, is the leading candidate to move to Turf Moor after the Clarets hierarchy decided to end his nine-and-a-year stay in Lancashire. The list of names touted with taking over at the relegation threatened side are Sam Allardyce, Wayne Rooney and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

After the game at the Vitality Stadium, Wilder was quizzed about mounting speculation regarding his future to which he responded: “I’ve not looked at it."

“Sean is a pal of mine. I think he’ll understand it in terms of how the industry is and there has obviously been a decision made. I’m not going to come out with anything in terms of this, that or the other.

“My head is down and I’m thinking, ‘onto Monday’."

He did go on to show a level of appreciation for the job that Dyche has done at Burnley turning them into a Premier League side as Wilder continued: "What I will say is that I think, without giving an opinion on the decision, he has done an incredible job there and I think it goes completely under the radar the job he does in terms of what goes on and the challenges he’s had at that football club.

“I think when people look back it, he’s been an incredible manager in the Premier League for a number of years. I’ve worked in that division and I know how tough it is. I’ve had two years there, he’s had seven, eight or nine and to keep Burnley up there has been an incredible achievement and one that he should be very proud of.”

With eight games left in the season, Burnley Under-23's coach Mike Jackson will take caretaker charge of the team for their Premier League tie against West Ham on Sunday.

Boro’s draw with the Cherries yesterday lifted them to within two points of the Championship play-offs with a game in hand on sixth placed Sheffield United. They return to action on Easter Monday when they host Huddersfield Town.