|
When I first met Owen Coyle he spoke enthusiastically about McCann, singling him out for special praise, and that was no surprise given that he'd already been talking about him in glowing terms, describing him as fantastically talented and a player who will go on to the play at the very highest level of the game.
Now he believes he's found the young player to slot in alongside him in McDonald who arrived from Dundee nine days ago in a £500,000 transfer. "Everyone knows the esteem that I hold Chris McCann in," he has repeated. "And you've got Kevin McDonald now who's a little bit taller but has the same dynamics.
"As his goals show from last year, he's a real goalscoring threat, as is Chris. They're both powerful lads and they both have the hunger and desire. They're driven and if we can improve them in various aspects, they can go on to be a tremendous asset for the football club."
McDonald is one of four new players already at the club with the promise of more to come, and Coyle is happy to continue bringing in younger players. "I feel if we're going to spend money, in the main, I'll try to do it on younger players who can grow with us and become real assets, so those values appreciate rather than depreciate.
"We want them to settle in with us, show their qualities and really take us on for years to come at Burnley."