MX23RW : Friday, December 20 01:21:48| >> :120:6050:6050:
[monks data]
Attendance: 21,338
Burnley logo
Premier League | Gameweek 27
Feb 23, 2019 at 12.30pm UK
 
Spurs logo

2-1

Wood (57'), Barnes (83')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Kane (65')

Ben Mee relishing the prospect of locking horns with fit-again Harry Kane

Ben Mee relishing the prospect of locking horns with fit-again Harry Kane
© Reuters
Kane could make his return from seven weeks out with an ankle injury this weekend.

Burnley defender Ben Mee will relish the challenge of taking on Harry Kane again if the Tottenham striker is fit to return to action at Turf Moor on Saturday.

Kane has been sidelined for seven weeks by an ankle injury but is back in training and could be in the squad for the lunchtime encounter.

The England captain has failed to score in four of his last five games against Burnley but the one exception was on his most recent visit to Turf Moor last season when he netted a superb hat-trick.

Mee has been preparing for a possible meeting with Kane by trying to stop in-form duo Ashley Barnes and Chris Wood, who have netted six goals between them in the last three games, in training.

He said: "They're tough boys to play against. What you see is what you get, especially with the physicality. Harry's obviously a similar build and he's got the quality as well so he's obviously a big player for them.

"Of course you've got to relish playing against the big players, that's why we play football definitely, to challenge yourself."

Burnley boss Sean Dyche doubts whether Spurs will risk Kane, saying: "They have got some important games coming up. I am not saying ours isn't important because of course it is, but they might view that differently."

The Clarets have turned things around after a difficult first half of the season, with Mee pinpointing Boxing Day's 5-1 home defeat by Everton as the crunch moment.

They have not lost in the Premier League since, an unbeaten run of seven games, and go into the weekend sitting three points above the relegation zone.

Mee said: "It's been a good few weeks for us. But we've got a lot of work to do, it's still quite tight and teams are winning games now at the bottom.

"The defeat against Everton put things into perspective, getting battered like that was a bit of a realisation of the situation we were in.

"The only people who can get you out of it are the team around you and we've done well to react from it."

A key factor in Burnley's improved form has been the return to the side of goalkeeper Tom Heaton, who has conceded six goals in seven games compared to 16 in the previous seven with Joe Hart between the sticks.

Mee said: "I've seen over the years, he's been fantastic, made some unbelievable saves. I think he's come in with a real point to prove."

Saturday, meanwhile, will see former Burnley full-back Kieran Trippier return to Turf Moor for the first time since his World Cup heroics for England.

In an interview with the Burnley Express, Trippier praised Dyche's influence in curbing his drinking habits and revealed he would love to play for the Clarets boss again in the future.

Dyche has quipped many times that he never has favourites among his players apart from Trippier, and he said: "I just love the kid, his character, his manner, his inner drive and determination.

"I don't keep in touch with many players because of the nature of the business but I do with Kieran, because he is just one of the best packages I have come across as a footballer.

"We try and give players ownership and the ownership he had was, 'this is what is right and appropriate, it is up to you whether you want to take it on.' And he did. He took it on and he continues to take it on further, which is the best thing about it all."

ga('create', 'UA-72310761-1', 'auto', {'name': 'pacontentapi'});
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'referrer', location.origin);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension1', 'By Eleanor Crooks, Press Association Sport');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension2', '28d3a259-6693-4ada-908d-2381a4b0e41b');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension3', 'paservice:sport,paservice:sport:club-news,paservice:sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension6', 'story');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension7', 'composite');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension8', null);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension9', 'sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.send', 'pageview', { 'location': location.href, 'page': (location.pathname + location.search + location.hash), 'title': 'Ben Mee relishing the prospect of locking horns with fit-again Harry Kane'});

ID:351118: cacheID:351118:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:6158:
Written by
P A
No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Sean Dyche in charge of Burnley on January 19, 2019
Read Next:
Dyche relishing unbeaten run despite ongoing Defour absence
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
1.15am
Broncos
@
Chargers
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool15113131131836
2Chelsea16104237191834
3Arsenal1686229151430
4Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest168442119228
5Manchester CityMan City168352823527
6Bournemouth167452421325
7Aston Villa167452425-125
8Fulham166642422224
9Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton166642625124
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs1672736191723
11Brentford167273230223
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle166552321223
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd166462119222
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham165472129-819
15Crystal Palace163761721-416
16Everton153661421-715
17Leicester CityLeicester163582134-1314
18Ipswich TownIpswich162681628-1212
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1623112440-169
20Southampton1612131136-255


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!