The 22-year-old Dubliner has been an ever-present in the Premier League so far this season, having missed only three of the club's 61 games in all competitions last term.

But, ahead of tomorrow's Carling Cup third round tie at Barnsley, Owen Coyle revealed McCann suffered medial ligament damage in a challenge with Sunderland's Michael Turner on Saturday, and is expected to be out for around three months.

Coyle was hugely disappointed for the youngster: "He's suffered a bad injury and I would expect him to be out for a minimum two to three months possibly.

"He's damaged his medial ligament.

"It's very unfortunate, and a body blow for Chris, and that's where my thoughts are.

"Every time he's been available, he's played in my team.

"I think the world of him, both as a player and as a lad. The good thing is he's at such a young age that he'll come back from that bigger and stronger and better for it.

"There's no doubts it's a hammer blow to him because I think he was all set to take the Premier League by storm, and he will when he comes back. It's just he'll have to delay that for possibly three months.

"My thoughts are with Chris at this time."

Turner won the ball fairly in the incident which forced McCann off in Burnley's 3-1 win, and Coyle added: "I think the modern pitches have got something to do with it in the fact they're so firm underneath when you're leg's planted and there is any contact it can lead to these sort of injuries.

"It's very unfortunate and I'm genuinely gutted for him.

"But he'll get the best rehab with Andy Mitchell and Luke (Bussey) and I'm sure he'll come back a bigger and better player for the football club."