BEN Mee insists it is credit to deadly duo Danny Ings and Sam Vokes that Burnley have not missed Charlie Austin this season.

Ings and Vokes took their combined tally for the 2013/14 campaign to 37 goals after netting three between them in Saturday’s 3-3 draw at QPR, which kept the Clarets in a surprise third position in the Championship table.

The duo have stepped up to the plate this season after the sale of Austin, who scored 28 times last term before departing for QPR on the eve of the new campaign.

Austin helped QPR into second place in the league before being ruled out for two months with a shoulder injury, but the form of Ings and Vokes means Burnley have not suffered in his absence.

“They’ve been on fire, they’ve been excellent for us,” said Clarets left back Mee.

“Vokesy last year was starting to come into his own a little bit and show little bits here and there, and this year he’s been excellent.

“And obviously everyone’s seen what Ingsy’s been like.

“It’s brilliant for them to get that partnership going.”

Ings and Vokes were both at Burnley in each of the previous two seasons – the latter initially on loan from Wolves.

But it is only this season that both have found the net on a regular basis.

“They’ve sort of had to do it really because there’s been no-one else, but they’ve gone out there and played brilliantly,” Mee said.

“We all knew Ingsy and Vokesy were good players.

“It was just a case of them maybe getting a bit more experience.

“In Ingsy’s case anyway he’s got a few more games under his belt.

“He’s just been flying.”

The Clarets host Millwall on Saturday and Lions boss Ian Holloway will assess the fitness of ex-Burnley midfielder Richard Chaplow, who is back in training after missing the last few games with a thigh problem.