The 21-year-old produced a magnificent finish to put Burnley ahead at Palmerston Park, and Coyle was full of praise for his all-round showing, full of pace, threat and neat link play: "We know what we're getting with him and we're excited about what he'll do for us.

"He's got a terrific work-rate and he's also got an eye for goal.

"It was the composure he showed going round the keeper and the terrific finish, so we're very pleased with that.

"He's been working ever so hard and I said if he just continues that work-rate, the goals will come, and so it proved.

"It was a terrific goal, and just before he came off he could maybe have had another one, but it just clipped the top of the crossbar on the way over."

Burnley conceded a soft late leveller via a free header from a corner, but overall there were more plus points from the performance, and Coyle conceded: "I think the later stages were always going to be a bit fatigue-laden with coming back from America on Thursday and training Friday.

"But having said that, we still looked strong enough.

"We conceded a soft goal at the end after making eight or nine changes – the lads didn't pay attention from a set play.

"But there were a lot of pleasing aspects about it.

"There were some nice, passing movements, and I think we will get better. There's room for improvement and we'll strive for that between now and August 9th.

"Martin Paterson scored a terrific goal in the first half and it was another game for the new lads to bed in.

"Diego Penny joined up with us (on Friday) and trained before the game, and he'll obviously feature in the games.

"But Brian (Jensen) was outstanding again and made a couple of great saves.

"I was pleased with the effort. We knew it was going to be a difficult game – Queen of the South start (their season) next week and they showed last year they're a very good side, so I was very pleased overall."

Penny was finally expected to make his overdue debut at Partick last night, having travelled with his new team-mates to Scotland on Saturday, and Coyle was hopeful defensive midfielder Remco van der Schaaf would also shake off a knock to feature: "Remco had a little strain and we didn't want to take any chances with him on Saturday, so we'll continue to monitor that one.

"But we'll move things about and shuffle accordingly.

"We'll make sure the lads are okay and hopefully stay injury-free, which is important."