SEAN Dyche believes Michael Keane is an ‘exciting young prospect’ having improved his ability to defend in a Clarets side that have faced some tough challenges this season.

The 23-year-old will go up against his England colleague John Stones for Manchester City today. Stones has won plaudits for his ability to bring the ball out from the back, but Dyche insists it is an aspect of the game that Keane is equally adept in.

Crucially, however, the Clarets chief believes his central defender has learnt when to play and when not to, as well as improving the key arts of defending in a season that has seen him make the elevation to the senior Three Lions squad thanks to his form with Burnley.

“I think he’s learned a lot about when to play out, and when not to, that’s part of his development - the key thing for me is he’s learned how to defend,” said Dyche.

“Lots of centre backs can play out from the back but the aren’t so many that can defend well.

“It’s not a dying art, but the importance on that has softened and needs adjusting - well it does in my club, so it gets adjusted, defend first for me, play out second.

“Brian Clough used to say ‘young centre half, head it and kick it, and give it to someone who’s better than you’.

“That’s not a bad start point.”

Keane has found himself busier in games this season, which was to be expected following the Clarets promotion to the Premier League via the Championship title last term.

The former Manchester United youngster and Ben Mee have impressed together at the back, especially at home, and Dyche thinks the fact they have been kept busy has accelerated their improvement.

“The key thing is he’s developing in a side that doesn’t have it easy, we’re not a side that just goes out, rolls it around, but those challenges can make you,” said the Clarets chief.

“All the things that don’t go well are the things that can make you.

“When the game is looking after itself and you’re playing your part in that, you don’t learn as much.

“When I reflect back, not as good as him, but the times I was learning more were when we weren’t flying and I was playing well.

“He’s got a good mix of that, super strong season last year, on the back of an up and down season in the Premier League, and now he looks like that’s making sense in the Premier League.”

The clash against City will be Keane’s 35th Premier League appearance, and his manager rates him as a major prospect giving his tender age for a centre half and his exposure to the game at the highest level.

“I think he’s an exciting young prospect in terms of centre backs, he’s 23, not young as in under 21, but in centre backs’ world, 23 is still quite young, particularly at this level,” he said.

“There’s not that many young centre backs playing at this level, and he’s developing all the time.”