Originally Posted by
Stuttgart88
Burnley boss hails “top-class” McCann
January 2, 2008
Exiled Republic of Ireland under-21 midfielder Chris McCann has been hailed as a superstar-in-waiting by Burnley manager and one-time Irish international Owen Coyle.
McCann has been in fine form for the Clarets this season, and has found a huge fan in Coyle, his new boss at Turfmoor.
The young Dubliner courted controversy in 2007 when walking out of Don Givens’s Irish under-21 squad after being omitted from the starting XI – but Coyle feels 2008 and beyond could see him take major steps towards the top of the game.
He told the Irish Sun: “It is easy to forget that Chris is still only 20 years of age because he seems to have been on the scene for quite some time. For someone of his age to have clocked up almost 100 first-team appearances in a tough league like the Championship shows you what he’s about.
“I don’t want to heap pressure on him, but in his position and at his age, I’m not sure I’ve seen a better player. Chris has been immense since I came in and I think he’s going to be a top player who will play at the highest level.”