While Ben Mee’s priority it to ensure Burnley are playing Premier League football next term, he admits he would love to join his team-mates in the England camp sooner rather than later.

The Clarets received praise over the international break as they had both defender Michael Keane and goalkeeper Tom Heaton in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for games against Scotland and Spain.

The last time Burnley had two players in an England squad was when Martin Dobson and Alan Stevenson travelled together to Portugal in 1974.

But some critics felt it should have been three with 27-year-old defender Mee playing an integral role as Burnley headed into this weekend’s action in the top half of the Premier League.

And while he insists his first job is to ensure Burnley avoid the drop this term, Mee can’t help but look on his team-mates’ rise and hope for a piece of the action himself.

“Credit to the two boys who have gone to England and that shows how far this club has gone,” said Mee.

“A few years ago you probably wouldn’t be saying two lads from Burnley are in the England squad and it’s a real credit to everyone that has put the work in and those two have done really well.

“I played [for England] from under-18s to 19s and 20s and 21s so it is an ambition of mine [to get into the senior squad].

“It certainly motivates me and if it happens then fantastic but I want to keep this club in the Premier League for sure.”

Scottish defender Stephen Kingsley is adamant Swansea City can turn around their run of poor form and start to climb the table.

Bob Bradley’s side have won just one game all season and ahead of Saturday’s clash at Everton had gone ten games without a win.

But Kingsley is backing his colleagues to soon drag themselves out of the relegation mire they currently find themselves in.

“We have the belief that we can turn it around,” said the 22-year-old.

“A good run of performances can lead to better results. We know from last season when we were going through a rough patch that one result can lead to a good run.

“But we know that within this squad we have the quality to start getting the results we are looking for.”

Photo by Athena Pictures/Getty Images

The Scotland international watched on from the bench as his colleagues went down 3-0 to England in their World Cup qualifier last Friday, but Kingsley hopes the break in Premier League action can work in the Swans’ favour.

“It was a great experience, even though the result wasn’t good,” he added.

“The international break came at a difficult time for us, but sometimes it can help working in a different environment for a short while.

“It’s important that we learn from the mistakes we made against Manchester United.”

After breaking his barren run in front of goal, Burnley striker Ashley Barnes is hoping that the floodgates have now opened.

The striker came off the bench to score a late winner in the Clarets’ Premier League clash with Crystal Palace earlier this month.

That was Burnley’s last game before the international break and now that domestic action has returned, Barnes is confident there is more to come after breaking a dry spell that stretched back to February 2015.

“It was a relief, more than anything, to hit the back of the net and have that feeling back inside you,” said the 27-year-old.

“As strikers that’s what you want to do. It had been a long time coming.

“I’m ready. I am one of the lads again now ready for selection if and when the gaffer picks me.

“Everyone wants to play. Everyone wants a starting shirt. But competition for places now is better than last time.

“You saw in the last game, I think that was the most attacking bench we’ve had.”

Knee and hamstring injuries have hampered Barnes’ time at Turf Moor but with Sean Dyche’s side three games unbeaten coming into this weekend, the front man is feeling optimistic at last.

(Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)

“I’m feeling brilliant. I’ve had a long road to recovery,” he added.

“I managed to get back after the knee last year and unfortunately at the start of this season snapped my chrysalis.

“That was probably the worst. You get over the big hurdle of a long time being out.

“This one was short but I broke down a couple of times in training and you just think ‘when’s it going to stop?

“But hopefully it has done. I’m all good now and raring to go.”

Chelsea midfielder Oscar is going nowhere in the January transfer window, according to manager Antonio Conte.

The Brazilian midfielder has found his opportunities limited so far this season, with nine appearances for the Blues and just a single assist.

It has led to speculation the 25-year-old could be on his way out of the door at Stamford Bridge and reports that some Chelsea fans would be pleased to see the back of him.

But Conte insisted he had no plans to sell Oscar.

“Oscar’s future is with Chelsea, full stop,” he said. “For me he’s an important player in our squad. He’s in good form but I have to choose the starting 11 every week.

“He’s a great player and he’s staying with Chelsea, it’s important to give this message. I consider him an important player.”

(Photo by Christopher Lee/Getty Images for Premier League)

The Chelsea manager picked up the October manager of the month award on Friday after winning all four league games, scoring 11 goals in the process and conceding none.

“For me it’s a great pleasure, a great honour after three months to receive the award, it’s fantastic,” he added.

“It’s important to share it with my players and also with the staff and the club. This award is for the work of all the team.”

Pep Guardiola has successfully adapted to the Premier League so far, but Crystal Palace midfielder Jason Puncheon insists he won’t know what’s hit him when Manchester City visit Selhurst Park on Saturday.

City sit third in the table, just two points off top spot, and will fancy their chances against an out-of-sorts Palace side who sit 16th.

Since coming back to the Premier League in 2013, Palace fans have become well known for their vocal support – especially at Selhurst Park.

And Puncheon thinks that noise, coupled with Palace’s fast-paced game will unsettle the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager.

“It’s all new for Pep coming to Selhurst Park, I know that much. He’s not going to be ready for that. We’ll wait to see,” he said.

“Everyone has got their own way of playing. You’ve got to settle in your beliefs – but this is the Premier League. It’s excruciating and dangerous in many different types of ways.

“We’re looking forward to this match and bringing our A-game.”

Gabriel Jesus’ emergence as one of the best young players in world football has made Manchester City fans excited ahead of his January arrival, but boss Pep Guardiola has moved quickly to play down expectations.

The 19-year-old was relatively unknown when City agreed a £27m deal in the summer, but he has become one of the world’s most talked about talents.

Jesus recently broke into the Brazil national side where he become their main central striker with support from Barcelona’s Neymar and Liverpool’s Philippe Coutinho.

He has scored four goals in six games for his country, and will arrive in Manchester in time for the second half of the season.

But Guardiola insists he will take it slow with Jesus and has instructed Brazilians Fernando and Fernandinho to help him settle into English life.

Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images

“We cannot forget he is 19 years old. We are delighted he is coming in January,” he said.

“He will try to help us. At 19 it is not easy but we have two of the nicest people I have met in my career, Fernando and Fernandinho, and they will help him.”

Stoke manager Mark Hughes believes this weekend is a golden opportunity for his side to continue their recent good form.

The Potters are unbeaten over their last six Premier League matches, accruing three wins in that time, and host Bournemouth on Saturday afternoon.

Stoke haven’t lost a league match at the bet365 Stadium since going down 4-0 to Tottenham in early September, while the Cherries have only picked up one point from their last three games.

Photo credit: Getty Images

And Hughes is keen to capitalise on Bournemouth’s recent slip-ups.

“Bournemouth started off brightly but they’ve stumbled slightly in the last couple of games, maybe against teams they would have fancied their chances against,” he said.

“They’ll be looking to get back on track but we’re on a good run of form at the moment. We’re enjoying it and the lads have come back from the international games in good heart and looking forward to the weekend.

“We’ve had three wins which was something that we needed to do – we always felt we were capable of putting together a run.

“And we got a decent point away from home at West Ham before the international break and now we’ve got another opportunity with a game at home where we feel we’re strong.

“It’s another opportunity to get three points but they are a good side – they’ve got a lot of pace and a lot of guys who get around the pitch with a good work ethic so we’ll have to match that.

“Given where our confidence levels are at the moment, I’m looking forward to it.”

Callum Wilson says he has no bad memories of Stoke City ahead of Saturday’s game despite suffering a serious injury at the bet365 Stadium last September.

Wilson had made an impressive start to the 2015-16 Premier League campaign, scoring five goals in six games, before knee ligament damage at the Potters kept him out of action until April.

Having now made a full recovery, the Bournemouth hitman says he won’t let what happened last season affect his approach to the game.

“I don’t hold any negativity in my head after what happened for me at Stoke last season. I’m going to go there with a positive mindset and hopefully leave with a different outcome,” he explained.

(Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

“I don’t have much of a recollection of the game against them last season. I just remember them being strong and they made it a hard game to play in.”

And Wilson is hopeful the Cherries, who have earned just one point in their last three Premier League matches, can turn around their recent dip in form at Stoke.

“We know it’s going to be tough, but we’ve got to go there and play our football,” he added.

“They’re on a good run and we’ve had a few disappointing results of late, but hopefully we’ll be able to turn that around soon.”

Emre Can admitted he is relishing the opportunity to play in a more advanced role for Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool this season.

The German has been playing more expansively as part of a free-scoring Reds side and the box-to-box midfielder has been key to Liverpool’s electrifying start this year.

Can has also been more of an attacking threat – he’s already doubled his tally of one goal last season – and says he has been trying to be more attack-minded.

“I’ve played a little bit differently to last season – I’ve been playing offensively, so I think I make the runs into the box more,” Can admitted.

(Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

“I always want to score more goals – the target is always to score more – so it’s nice that I’ve scored the two goals, but the most important thing was that we won both games.

“My position has changed a little bit [this season], but not too much. Last year I played more in the role of holding position and this year I’ve been playing more in the half-spaces. It’s nice I can play both positions.

“Playing in the half spaces means I can go forward more. I am enjoying it – but I’d enjoy playing in the holding position as well.”

Sunderland’s vital first win over the season may have been all the way down in Bournemouth, but Victor Anichebe insists the key to Premier League survival is home support.

It took first-half goals from Anichebe and veteran striker Jermain Defoe to bag a 2-1 victory and David Moyes’ first three-pointer of the year.

“We need to make the Stadium of Light a fortress,” said Anichebe. “I’ve watched Sunderland in the past and I know it is a really difficult place for teams to come.

(Photo by Alex Morton/Getty Images)

“I always call on the support of the fans and if they continue to roar us on like they did in the last game then it will give us a great push to pick up a victory on Saturday.

“The win at Bournemouth was pleasing and relieving but we can’t rely on that one game and we really need to push on from here.

“When we went down to ten men we could have crumbled – many teams would have – because it was difficult for us for a good ten minutes, but I turned to the fans and said ‘come on’ and they really got behind us.”