Nathan Collins on standby as Burnley sweat on Ben Mee

Republic of Ireland defender Nathan Collins could be set for more first-team action after Burnley captain Bee Mee was forced off the field of play during yesterday's 2-0 defeat to Leicester City.

The 32-year-old is a fresh injury concern for Saturday's Premier League visit of Chelsea after succumbing to a knee injury in the home defeat.

Mee put in a strong challenge to block Patson Daka's attempts to break into the box around 20 minutes into the match, and after twice receiving treatment on his knee the centre-half was forced off five minutes before half-time, replaced by Collins for his 10th appearance of the season.

The 20-year-old joined the Clarets from Stoke last summer, but has had to bide his time behind the first-choice partnership of Mee and James Tarkowski

Collins, who made his international bow against Qatar last October for to date his only cap, enjoyed a run of games in October, has only played twice since the turn of the year, with February’s appearance against Brighton brought about owing to Tarkowski contracting Covid-19.

Burnley manager Sean Dyche says the extent of Mee’s injury remains unknown.

"I think he has a bang on his knee, hopefully a bang more than a twist but I will wait to find out more," he said.

Burnley have the stingiest defence of any side in the bottom half of the Premier League but can expect a tough examination of those credentials when Thomas Tuchel's side visit Turf Moor on Saturday.

Dyche admitted his side had been off the levels which had brought them seven points from the previous three matches, breathing new life into their fight to avoid the drop.

They had frustrated Leicester for 80 minutes but had relied on a four fine saves from Nick Pope to keep things level, but eventually succumbed