BURNLEY boss Sean Dyche believes central defensive pair Ben Mee and James Tarkowski will be puzzled by their England omission.

Nick Pope is the only Clarets representative in the squad for the games against the Czech Republic and Bulgaria.

Tarkowski had been hoping to add to his two caps while captain Mee is still waiting on a first senior call-up.

Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate has instead selected Harry Maguire, Joe Gomez, Michael Keane, Tyrone Mings and Fikayo Tomori as his central defenders.

Dyche believes Mee, capped at Under-19, 20 and 21 level, could become the next Steve Bruce, the decorated Manchester United skipper only playing once for England B in 1987.

“I think both Tarky and Ben are scratching their heads,” said the Clarets boss.

“Ben, eventually, could become Steve Bruce, in the sense, it’s well documented Steve never played for England, and Ben could become one of those.

“Performance-wise, if you just went on form, currently, but particularly when we finished seventh, I thought he was outstanding for a lot of that season.

“Tarky is slightly different, a bit younger, has been on the England scene before, but it’s not an easy job as an international manager, and I’ve always thought Gareth is trying to look for now and keep increasing the future by getting players in early.

“If you look at Mings and Tomori, they’ve very little experience, which is probably the biggest surprise, but, I understand trying to blood them and get them in the system early, and they are lefties of course.

“I get some of the thinking. I haven’t spoken to Gareth about any of those thoughts, they’re just mine from the outside looking in.

“But either or both should be considered at very close quarters to be in the England thinking.”

Tarkowski has been open about trying to force his way back into contention, the 26-year-old’s last appearance for his country coming in the 1-0 win over Switzerland in September 2018.

Dyche believes the former Brentford man is playing better than ever, the Clarets’ Europa League qualification having initially seen him break into the England set-up.

“I think really he’s returned to when he first came on the scene,” the Burnley boss said.

“I think last year was an odd year for a lot of players, a bit up and down, so I think all you’re really seeing is him return to where he was defensively, but, a more experienced version.

“So there’s that angle to his performances, that desire but now, when he needs to make simpler decisions, he can make them, because he’s got more experience.

“It’s a better version of when he first came in, but that hunger and desire and that real edge to his performances has been very good, I think.”

 Pope and the Three Lions are in Prague to take on the Czech Republic on October 11 before heading to Sofia to face Bulgaria three days later.