SEAN Dyche has ruled Ben Mee and Scott Arfield out of Burnley's Premier League clash with Chelsea.

Mee remains absent with a shin injury, although he has a slim chance of being fit for Sunday's trip to Stoke City, but Arfield will miss both games this week with a calf problem.

"Ben Mee won’t make it. Scotty Arfield won’t make it," Dyche said of the duo's chances of facing the Blues on Thursday night.

"Both are settling down and Scotty is making good progress now. Ben maybe for Sunday.

"Jon (Walters) is back and fit and around the group again.

"Ben's is a stress reaction in his lower shin, towards his ankle. That can settle down quickly sometimes, which it seems to be doing at the moment but it can equally flare up very quickly. It is nothing too drastic at this stage but it needs to be kept an eye on."

Meanwhile Dyche said the returning Tom Heaton had coped well with finding his path to the first-team blocked by Nick Pope.

"There is no reaction," Dyche said. "Tom is totally respectful of that, he totally understands it because there has been a time when he is in the goal.

"Nick just keeps performing. Its really, really simple when they are playing so well.

"Popey is having a very good season, delivering very strong performances so I have got no reason at the moment to consider changes.

"Tom is a fantastic keeper, let me make that clear – and has done many good things and his time will come again.

"But he knows Popey has got the shirt at the moment."