BEN Mee knows Burnley’s defence cannot afford to let their standards slip – because the Clarets’ new signings are ready and waiting to take their places.

The defensive quartet of Mee, Jason Shackell, Michael Duff and Kieran Trippier have taken last season’s impressive form into the Premier League, with Burnley conceding only four goals in their opening four matches in the top flight.

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Saturday’s clean sheet at Crystal Palace was the Clarets’ second successive shut-out, after a 0-0 draw at home to Manchester United a fortnight earlier.

But Sean Dyche has recently brought in Stephen Ward and Michael Keane to provide increased competition in the left back and centre back positions, while Steven Reid arrived in the summer to give another option at right back.

Even Nathaniel Chalobah can play in the centre of defence, as well as his preferred position in central midfield.

“That competition is a good thing,” said Mee.

“Everyone likes a bit of competition and hopefully it spurs us all to improve and work even harder than what we are doing.

“It's always good to have competition and have a big squad, for injuries obviously.

“For the players in the team, we want to play and keep on keeping clean sheets so we stay in the team.”

Burnley have scored only once in their opening four league matches but Mee believes their strong defensive record – they conceded only 37 goals in 46 games last season – is down to good organisation.

“We’ve brought that in from last year,” he said.

“We’ve got a good shape about ourselves, we work hard on it, we take it into games and we deliver the defensive side of it.

“We just need to put the ball in the net a little bit more maybe. But that will come I think.”

Both Keane and Chalobah were left out of the squad to face Crystal Palace on Saturday because the duo had only had two days’ training with their new club following England under 21 duty.

They are likely to come into contention for Saturday’s home game against Sunderland, however – a side Keane has already faced this season with Manchester United.

Then the 21-year-old, who hopes to become a regular at United one day, came on as a 44th-minute substitute in a 1-1 draw at the Stadium of Light.

“It was a great experience playing in front of a massive crowd at Sunderland with United in a big pressure game and that’s what I want at this stage of my career now,” he said.

“First things first, I want as many games xas possible to show everyone I can play at Premier League level.

“I need to make myself known at this level and help Burnley climb the table.

“Obviously because I’m in the same league as Manchester United, once I go into the United team, hopefully, I’ll know what to expect playing in the Premier League and that will help me.”