BEN Mee is relishing his ‘David and Goliath’ return to Manchester City next season.

Burnley’s trip to the Etihad will be one of the first fixtures the City youth team graduate will be earmarking when the fixtures are released next month.

The Clarets will be going into almost all of their Premier League as underdogs, not least against the newly re-crowned champions of England.

But the 24-year-old insists they will not shy away from the challenge.

“I’m looking forward to getting the fixture list and seeing that you're going to playing Chelsea, United, City, Arsenal away and people like that.

“And we're going to go there with no fear. That’s been a big thing for us this year and it will serve us well I’m sure,” said Mee, noting how few gave Burnley a prayer for promotion at the start of last season. Indeed, the Clarets were more fancied for a drop into League One than top flight challenge.

But having defied the odds to get there, Mee is mindful that is will be an even bigger mission for Burnley to stay there.

“It is but we got written off this year and we’ll get written off next year.

“We’ve proved people wrong this year and we’ll do the same next year,” said Mee, despite admitting he doesn’t pay any attention to the doom mongers.

“I don’t listen to any of that.

“We stick to what we know. We believe in ourselves and that’s all that matters,” added the defender, who like team-mate Kieran Trippier left Manchester City in search of regular first team football.

Knowing they will be facing their old club in the top flight next season after earning automatic promotion with the Clarets has made for the most enjoyable summer of Mee’s career so far.

“It’s been a great season and it’s really satisfying to look back on it and see what we’ve achieved from the beginning of the year and everything that’s happened throughout the year.

“It’s been amazing and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it,” he said.