BEN Mee is expected to hand manager Sean Dyche a fitness boost ahead of next week’s visit of Brighton.

The defender had put himself back in contention for Saturday’s home draw with Sheffield Wednesday.

But Dyche revealed he opted to give the 24-year-old an extra week to recover from the thigh injury that had kept him sidelined for four of the previous five games.

“It was my call with Ben whether he was involved or not,” said the Burnley boss.

“He’d had a niggly thigh and he had a problem with it again a couple of weeks ago so we just thought ‘it needs to be right’. We were worried it might not be.

“He trained well on Thursday and Friday with the group, but now we’ve got that chance to make sure that it’s right.”

Mee missed the start of the season after sustaining a knee injury during the club’s pre-season trip to Cork but remained an ever-present after returning to the side for the Capital One Cup second round win over Preston in late August up until his latest set-back.

The former England Under 21 international’s return coincided with an 11-game unbeaten run in league and cup.

Mee had missed the Boxing Day defeat at Middlesbrough and goalless draw at Wigan Athletic in the final game of 2013.

The former Manchester City and Leicester City defender returned for the New Year’s Day win over Huddersfield Town but it turned out to be a game too soon as the left back was forced off again in the second half.

Mee sat out the FA Cup third round tie at Southampton and trip to Yeovil Town the following weekend.

He returned to full training in the build-up to Saturday’s game with the Owls at Turf Moor.

Meanwhile, Ross Wallace is expected to step up his comeback trail this week.

The Clarets have planned a behind-closed-doors friendly on their return from their four-day training camp in Spain, with the aim of Wallace completing a full game.

“We’ve got a game pencilled in with him once we get back so once he’s had 90 (minutes),” said Dyche.

“He’s desperate to be involved but I’ve explained to him he’s had a serious injury so it’s important that it’s corrected and made right, which it has been.”