Young Gunner on the right tracks under Coyle

11:54am Friday 29th February 2008

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By Suzanne Geldard »

BURNLEY manager Owen Coyle has admitted Mark Randall is ticking all the right boxes in his bid to make his first Burnley start.

The Arsenal loanee's second half appearance in Tuesday's win over Coventry City was the longest the midfielder has featured in a single game since arriving a month ago.

But the craft and guile the 18-year-old has continually displayed in his five outings so far have only added to the mounting selection headaches Coyle is facing in all departments.

As well as trying to accommodate Randall in the middle of the park, Alan Mahon made his comeback from a hamstring injury in the reserves this week.

Michael Duff is soon hoping to be in contention for a place in an already strong defensive unit, following five months out with knee ligament damage. While, if fit after an Achilles problem ruled him out against Plymouth and Coventry, striker Andrew Cole must wait to see if he will be named in the side to face Watford tomorrow.

These are the types of dilemmas every manager relishes. And although Randall is still working towards his full debut, the teenager is more than happy to be throwing another spanner in the works. Because between the Burnley bench and Arsenal reserves, for him there's no contest.

"I wanted to go on loan to get experience and make myself stronger, and Burnley are a great club to be at," said Randall, whose move was finalised following Burnley's FA Cup third round clash with Arsenal, in which he was an unused substitute.

"When I was on the bench I thought Burnley were a quality team who tried to play. They really made me think about the Championship being a lot better standard than the reserves.

"When I was asked if I wanted to go to Burnley on loan, I said yes' straight away because I didn't want to stay at Arsenal playing reserve football.

"I didn't feel I was pushing myself on enough and needed that change of scenery.

And Randall's 33-minute stint against Coventry has only endorsed Coyle's opinion about his January loan signing.

"He looked lively, he was stepping into play and breaking things up and then going forward he looked a threat," he said.

"We know he's got a terrific range of passing and it's always pleasing when a kid so young comes into that stage and against some quality players he certainly looked the business.

"He's getting closer (to starting) by the game.

"I think there's stuff that we are trying to actively work on in his game to improve him, but I think everyone can see when he does get on the ball he's a very gifted footballer and he's just got a natural flow to his play."