And while that remains a double-edged sword, with, in particular, Chris McCann's performances earning rave reviews and interest from elsewhere, Owen Coyle believes the policy of blooding youngsters remains the way forward.

Ahead of tonight's clash with Watford at Turf Moor, Burnley lie eighth, two points from third, on an eight-game unbeaten run.

Joining McCann in the headlines, fellow 21-year-old Martin Paterson is top-scorer with six goals, while 19-year-olds Jay Rodriguez, with his winner against Fulham, and Kevin McDonald, have also made big impressions.

No-one is getting carried away with the current situation, just as no-one was panicking after losing the first two league games, and Coyle said: "I think the younger players will get better as they go, there's no doubt about that.

"But we have to make sure they're learning all the time, and the experienced players help them along the way, which they have done.

"The only way this club can go ahead in years to come is by bringing young players through, the club lost £4m last year, and you can't keep asking the chairman and Brendan to find those sums of money every year.

"It's too much for anybody.

"So, we've tried to invest in younger players, so they are assets, but equally, you're getting a younger, vibrant team.

"We're nowhere near the finished article yet, we've a long, long way to go, a lot of hard work ahead of us, but we know that.

"We've won one or two games, that's all we've done, and our feet are firmly on the ground.

"We know where we want to go, and how we want to get there, but you can't click your fingers and it happens overnight, it will be hard work that gets you there, and that's what we're trying to do."

Coyle is a firm fan of McCann, saying recently: "He's so important to the team. There's never any thoughts of not playing him because of what he brings. I really believe if he continues in this form, the whole of the country will sit up and take notice of Chris McCann."

And the youngster continues to take the praise in his stride and deliver the goods.

Coyle again backed up his belief in the Dubliner, and admits he is desperate to hold onto him, as his form attracts envious eyes elsewhere: "It's well documented what I think about Chris, I can't speak highly enough of him.

"I said last week, I believe Chris could go and play in the Premier League on Saturday, or tonight, whenever, he's ready to play there.

"We don't want to lose Chris, he's an integral part of what we want to do, but that's my opinion, other people may have a different opinion.

"But I work with him on a daily basis, and I think he's getting better, when he's focussed, tuned in and fully fit – because he's had niggling injuries as well for such a young lad – for me, he's the type of player that anyone would want to get hold of.

"He's got a maturity beyond his years, he's looking bigger and stronger, he wins headers, he's a goal threat, he's a terrific finisher, box to box, but he knows the only way he will continue to develop is through hard work on the training ground, replicated in the games.

"But his fitness levels are fantastic, and we're trying to encourage him to be positive and take his game onto the next level.

"He's committed, he wears his heart on his sleeve, sometimes to his detriment, and supporters identify with that, because that's the type of player they want at the football club.

"We don't want Chris to go anywhere, we want him to stay here and grow with us.

"I would be kidding myself on if I wasn't telling you my opinion of him, and hopefully he takes that belief we have in him onto the pitch, as he's been doing, and continues to show that."