SEAN Dyche hailed the form of the ‘reliable’ Ben Mee as the versatile Clarets defender continues to impress at centre back.

Since switching from left back to the centre of defence, the position he grew up in coming through Manchester City’s youth system, Mee has helped Burnley keep four clean sheets in seven Championship outings.

MORE TOP STORIES:

He was nominated for the Championship’s player of the month award for January, missing out to Hull striker Abel Hernandez, but Mee had the last laugh as he kept the Uruguayan striker quiet at Turf Moor to end the Tigers’ winning run, and in the process extend Burnley’s unbeaten league run to seven games.

“He’s been good for a long time. He’s a player who is reliable and he delivers,” Clarets chief Dyche said of Mee.

“We didn’t overthink the change (from left back to centre back) and he certainly didn’t. I didn’t even speak to him about it, I just named the team because I know he knows the role and he knows how to defend.

“Historically he is a centre half and we’ve moulded him to be a left-back and he does a very good job there as well.

“He did a fine job at left-back in the Premier League.

“He’s enjoyed it and he’s enjoying his football, which is key to it.”

Mee’s versatility to switch positions in the back four is a vital asset in the squad, and his move to replace Michael Duff has seen Stephen Ward come in at left back.

During the first half of the season Burnley were understocked in the middle of defence, with Michael Keane and Duff playing together before Mee came in.

“You want versatility from as many players as you can to be honest, because we carry quite a small squad here,” said Dyche.

“We’ve built it over the last couple of years but if you look at the size of squads at the likes of Middlesbrough, Derby, Sheffield Wednesday and Hull they have got a considerable amount more bodies around.

“With Ben I was very comfortable with the change. It was a nod in the right direction and a few words and he got it immediately because he’s that type, he understands the role and he’s delivered very well.”