Burnley manager Sean Dyche says the fact that Ireland duo Robbie Brady and Jeff Hendrick have played alongside each other since childhood is helpful as the two team up together at club level.
Burnley signed Hendrick from Derby County last summer and six months later Ireland team-mate Brady joined from Norwich City.
The two were team-mates at Dublin's St Kevin's Boys as schoolboys and their midfield connection has developed into one that graces the Irish international setup - and now Premier League level.
Ireland left-back Stephen Ward is another international colleague in the Burnley setup.
Speaking to Off The Ball, Dyche said that the fact Hendrick and Brady were both childhood team-mates was not the reason to sign them both, but their mutual connection means that it makes it easier for recent more signing Brady to adapt.
"It's a minor thing in the grand scheme of signing a player but when they're here, then it becomes a more important thing because obviously they link in and settle very quickly if they have players that they know or good friends, in this case, who are in the building," he said.
"So I think there's a nice little clutch of Irish players there and they all get on. We've got a good unit here. The players are all very clear-minded on what the task is in front of them and how we go about it as a team, so I must say there is a very good group here. All players adapt but it's obviously helpful if they've got team-mates, in their case international team-mates, who are here already."
Burnley manager Sean Dyche during the Premier League match at the Liberty Stadium, Swansea. Adam Davy/PA Wire/PA Images
Next up for Dyche's side is a trip to Anfield to face a Liverpool side they have already defeated 2-0 at the start of the season at Turf Moor.
He explained the preparation process for a match like that.
"Some of it is through live games where we've actually been to watch Liverpool play, some is through the analytics department and then we piece it all together to what we think's important," he said, highlighting the key roles of the available staff and coaches in gathering relevant information.
"You have to let your players know some of what the opposition may attempt to do. Now, as I suggest, some teams do change but a lot have a base way of playing that is their own and they use that in virtually every game. So the detail involved can be varied in terms of how deep you go."
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