Coyle ditches Masters for a Penny

Coyle was due to fly out to Hong Kong to take part in a Masters tournament last month but scrapped those plans and instead flew out to Madrid to speak to Penny. Coyle admitted: "If I hadn't done that, then I think there's a chance we would've missed out on him altogether."

Burnley have been trying to get Penny in since last January when we were alerted to him, presumably at the time he was a potential signing for Barnsley and the manager was a happy man when the Home Office appeals panel gave us the go ahead yesterday.

"We are obviously delighted to sign him," Coyle said. "He said it's always been his desire to play in English football and he turned down other offers from other European clubs to come here and play.

"We were alerted to him in January, but nothing is done in a week. We have done a full background check on him and sent a scout out there twice to check him through thoroughly. I think he will be a tremendous asset to the football club."

Coyle was finally convinced when he saw his performance against Brazil. "He's 6ft 5ins, he's a great shot stopper and kicks well," Coyle added. "In the match against Brazil he single handedly kept the likes of Kaka out. He was outstanding."

Penny has clearly been brought in as first choice goalkeeper and was awarded the number 1 jersey previously allocated to Gabor Kiraly.