Mee rises to the occasion with Burnley walking tall

BEN MEE, the Burnley skipper, has proved he is tall enough to be a Premier League centreback — and to look down on today’s opponents Everton.

‘Wikipedia says I’m 5ft 11in, but I am actually 6ft,’ Mee says. ‘I heard it a lot that I might not be tall enough for a centre-half, but I think too much is made of the height thing.’

Mee was tried at leftback after Burnley signed him from Manchester City in 2012, but he has since flourished in the heart of Sean Dyche’s back four. His partnership with Michael Keane may have ended with his team-mate’s £30million summer transfer to Goodison Park, but in James Tarkowski, Mee continues to help ‘little’ Burnley upset the Premier League odds.

Burnley are two points ahead of Everton before this afternoon’s clash. ‘We weren’t expecting to be above Everton in the table at this stage,’ Mee says. And there is clearly no ill-feeling towards Keane, whose reunion with his former club is in doubt as he recovers from injury.

‘I am hoping to see him after the game, whether he plays or not,’ says Mee, who is looking forward to resuming their defensive partnership, wearing England shirts.

‘It would be brilliant to play alongside Michael for England. I don’t see many left-sided centrehalves, not English ones anyway. It’s always been in my mind that I might be considered.’