Clarets trio ready for the Three Lions

Last updated : 25 October 2016 By The Editor's Chair

The impressive Premier League form of Burnley's English defensive trio of goalkeeper Tom Heaton and central pairing Michael Keane and Ben Mee must be capturing the attention of stand-in England boss Gareth Southgate. 

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Photo source: PA.

There is a certain irony in the fact Burnley skipper Tom Heaton and Michael Keane departed Old Trafford to find first team football and both find themselves on the verge of becoming fully fledged England internationals.

To compound the irony even further, former England under-21 international was snatched away from Manchester City by former Clarets' manager Eddie Howe for exactly the same reason.

Heaton, Keane and Mee have become permanent fixtures in Sean Dyche's starting eleven. The central pairing of Keane and Mee are one of the main reasons for the Burnley sides' growing reputation of being difficult to break down.

It is common knowledge that big spending Chelsea are currently throwing covetous glances towards Keane. A reported £30 million pounds transfer fee may appear on the Turf Moor boardroom table in January to seriously tempt the Lancashire club's resolve.

Sean Dyche is however determined to keep hold of Keane and recently commented, "We're fortunate in that we don't have to sell, the good side of us being careful is that we're in a very healthy financial position". 

"Whatever the price (offered), we don't have to sell." 

Michael Keane will have to decide very soon where his future career takes him, a fact Dyche accepts, "It’s a reality of this club, eventually, usually due to finance, they outgrow the system, it’s the reality of being Burnley manager and it’s tough."

John Stones of Manchester City was recently transferred from Everton for a sum believed to be in the region of £50 million pounds. What price on Keane now?

If Manchester City had demonstrated the patience and resolve to allow Ben Mee to develop that substantial fee may not have been necessary.

Similarly at Manchester United, Keane is now in the full England squad and having watched the Reds' defensive horror show at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, perhaps he should have been retained?

On his current form, Keane may well have been better placed than either Smalling or Blind when Pedro flashed in between the pair to open the Chelsea scoring after only thirty seconds.

Keane and Mee under the watchful tutelage of former rugged centre half Sean Dyche, are developing into one of England's best defensive pairings.

The calm and collected Tom Heaton is highly rated and the current statistics make him the best shot stopper in the Premier League.

Time for the Three Lions to come calling on the Clarets' defensive trio? (TEC).