Albion have been warned to beware their former “gentle giant” striker as they chase a first win of the season at The Amex.

Wales international Sam Vokes will spearhead a Burnley side aiming to stretch their unbeaten start to the season to five games when they head south on Saturday.

Vokes has netted in the last two Championship outings – both won – as the Clarets keep up with the early pacesetters.

Boss Sean Dyche wants the man known as a gentle giant to show he has developed a tougher edger since his loan spell with the Seagulls, when he scored three goals.

Dyche said: “You want a toughness to your players but it has to be tempered with refereeing and the way the game has changed.

“Sam is toughening his resolve, the way he plays and the way he conducts himself. And that’s down to how good shape he’s in.”

Albion are looking to build on their win at Birmingham as they face back-to-back home games against Burnley and Millwall described as “massive” by Vokes’ international colleague Andrew Crofts.

The midfielder believes Oscar Garcia’s men have been playing better than results so far have indicated.

But he admits only results will hammer home that message. The scorer of the Seagulls’ winning goal at Birmingham said: “We’ve been playing well but results are everything in this division “These two games are massive. We want to build on this now.

“It is no good winning and then doing nothing from it.

“We are glad to have the points on the board and now we have got something to build on.”

Albion striker Ashley Barnes continues to be linked with interest from Norwich and Hull. The Canaries have boosted their striking options by signing Swedish international Johan Elmander on loan from Galatasaray.