Burnley can kick on now

Ben Mee believes Burnley have confirmed they are more than capable of competing at the Premier League level.

The Clarets are heading to Saturday’s home fixture against Southampton having fell to only their first defeat in five matches away at Queens Park Rangers last weekend.

Prior to that, Burnley recorded two wins and two draws from four consecutive Premier League fixtures and they remain unbeaten at Turf Moor since October.

And Mee insists the recent good run of results has reinforced the belief among the team.

He said: “We are growing and the lads are more confident in what we’re doing.

“Having said that, at the beginning of the season we believed in ourselves as well from what we did last season.

“I think what we found out early on in the season is that at this level teams don’t need three or four chances to score a goal and the quality of those teams is a lot different comparing to the Championship.

“It’s all coming together at the minute though and the feeling is changing a little bit. We’re starting to get to grips with it and the belief is growing, for sure.

“We feel like we belong here and it’s great to go on a little run. It’s going to be a tough few weeks for us now, but hopefully we can get some good results and that will push us on even more.

“On Saturday, the pressure could be on Southampton and coming to our ground they will find out that it is not as easy as they might expect. Hopefully we can use that to our advantage.”

Mee made his first start in seven weeks when he replaced the injured Stephen Ward in the Burnley line-up at Loftus Road last Saturday.

 And with the Republic of Ireland international expected to be out of action for at least six weeks with an ankle problem, the former Manchester City player will now be determined to make the left-back spot his own again.

 Mee added: “It was a little bit frustrating for me, but the gaffer made a decision and you’ve got to stick by it.

“I had a chance to reflect on the games that I had played. I felt that I was getting better and a bit more confident with every game.

“I’ve worked on my game a little bit since and maybe I’m a stronger player now.

“Stephen is a great lad and it’s not nice for anyone to get an injury, especially in such circumstances.

“But personally I’m happy to be back in the team and I’m determined to do well and make the most of it now.”