AFTER another difficult day on the road at Southampton last weekend Burnley return to the home comforts of Turf Moor tomorrow as they welcome Premier League high-flyers Everton.

They have taken all their points in front of their own fans so far this season and the discrepancy between home and away performances is perhaps best highlighted by defensive records.

The Clarets have shipped nine goals in three games away from home, but have conceded only three times in five games at Turf Moor this season, with all of those strikes for Swansea, Hull City and Arsenal coming in the final 10 minutes.

In fact Burnley have conceded just six goals in their last 18 home league matches and in none of those games have they conceded twice.

The defence has certainly been tested this season, both on the road and at home, especially in the games against Liverpool and Arsenal, but Ben Mee and Michael Keane are continuing to earn plaudits for their displays, and boss Sean Dyche believes the duo are developing as players this season due to the fact that they are being kept busy.

“I think it’s good for their development for them to be defenders in a team who don’t have it easy, because you’re working hard, stretched in some games,” said the Clarets chief.

“I don’t want it to be like that, by the way, I’d prefer them to have quiet days, but over a season, with a club like ours, it’s probable they’ll be tested. That’s good for all the players, particularly the defensive unit.”

While most of the attention has fallen on Keane this season, with the 23-year-old earning an England call-up recently, Mee has flown under the radar, although the 27-year-old has been an ever-present at the heart of defence since moving from left-back midway through last season.

“I don’t think he gets overlooked, last season he got a lot of plaudits, for the right reasons,” said Dyche.

“When we made a change in the team around Christmas, since then he’s probably had even more plaudits than Keano. Keano had them early last season and right at the end when he scored a couple of important goals, but Ben had a steady amount, so I don’t think he worries about that.”

Keane is out of contract at the end of next season and rejected a new four-year deal in the summer. Dyche doesn’t believe the former Manchester United youngster is being distracted by transfer talk, but admitted it was possible Keane could outgrow the club.

"I don’t see why he should (be distracted), he’s been fine all summer and this season, in fact better than fine and he's gone and got England recognition," he said.

I don’t think he thinks too much about it and why should he? He’s a young player playing in the Premier League, he just gets on with it.

“It’s a reality of this club, eventually, usually due to finance, they outgrow the system, it’s the reality of being Burnley manager and it’s tough."

Burnley rejected a £15million bid from champions Leicester City in the summer and Dyche has no idea how much his centre half is now worth after a record breaking summer transfer window.

“There is no actual valuation any more, it’s just shifting sands of the market,” he said.

“John Stones moved for short of £50m, everyone else will say Michael Keane is now worth whatever you want to write.

“I can’t define an actual price on any one of my players because I’ve never witnessed anything like it in my life. It’s changing every window.

“We’re fortunate in that we don’t have to sell, the good side of us being careful is that we’re in a very healthy financial position. Whatever the price, we don’t have to sell.”