MICHAEL Keane believes he will come back a better player after being dropped for Burnley’s last two Premier League games.

The 22-year-old had started 16 league games in a row after replacing the injured Michael Duff at Stoke, but 37-year-old Duff was back in the team for the win over Manchester City, and retained his place at Southampton.

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Despite the disappointment at losing his place Keane is determined to improve his game while he is out of the side.

And the England Under-21 international doesn’t think he did much wrong before being dropped by Clarets boss Sean Dyche Asked if he was disappointed at losing his place Keane said: “Yes, but I don’t think I went out through doing badly.

“I think the manager thinks he had to make a few changes and get a reaction from the players and it happened so I’ve got no complaints.

“I feel like if I keep training well I will get my chance again at some point, I just have to stay positive.”

Keane was in action over the weekend when he joined up with Gareth Southgate’s Young Lions.

The former Manchester United youngster, played the full game in a 1-0 win in the Czech Republic last Friday and came on after 77 minutes of the dramatic 3-2 win over Germany at the Riverside Stadium on Monday night.

Keane, who initially joined the Clarets on a four-month loan deal before making his move permanent in January, is keen to learn from the experience of losing his place in the side in what is his first season of regular Premier League football.

“It’s part of the learning experience,” he added.

“It’s the ups and downs of football.

“You’re not always on a high and doing really well. I think a bit of time out and looking at how I’ve done and what I can do to improve and a bit of work on the training ground will be good for me and it gives me a bit of a rest to be fresh.

“Every week I work on little things I can improve on, whether it be quick feet, heading, in the gym,” he added.

“I know there are a lot of areas I can improve and I know if I keep working hard I will get my chance again and hopefully do well again.”

Keane is likely to remain on the bench for the visit of Tottenham on Easter Sunday, and while he accepts it is another big test for the Clarets, he is sure his team-mates will be well prepared for the arrival of in-form Harry Kane and company.

“It is a big test, but we’ve had bigger tests this season,” he said.

“We beat Man City so I think the lads will be ready for it.”