STEVE Cotterill insists Burnley's young duo Chris McCann and Kyle Lafferty can deal with the rough and tumble of the Championship.

The 19-year-old pair are continuing to establish themselves in Cotterill's squad after making their breakthrough at Turf Moor last season.

Irish midfielder McCann has made 18 league and cup appearances this term, including 11 starts, while striker Lafferty, a Northern Ireland international, is one ahead on 19, with eight starts.

Both have been heavily involved in Burnley's fixtures over the past month, such as last Saturday's 1-0 league loss at Coventry, and the twosome will hope to maintain their places over the busy festive period.

Clarets boss Cotterill has been delighted with the teenagers' performances and believes their physical attributes have helped them settle to life in the Championship.

"Kyle is coming along nicely," said Cotterill. "He's not quite ready for the full mantle yet, but I'm delighted with him and Chris McCann.

"They are not there through any sort of fluke. They have got there on merit.

"I know Kyle has come into the team on the back of Andy Gray being injured, but he could have easily been partnering Andy Gray (at Coventry).

"Kyle and Chris are big lads. No physical side of the game fazes them.

"They won't be physically intimidated, that's a sure fact. They have their own self confidence as regards that."

Lafferty has stepped in to replace 10-goal Gray since the former Sunderland man broke three metatarsals in his right foot against Leeds two weeks ago.

The young six foot four striker made a stunning impression in Burnley's 1-1 draw at Ipswich on December 2, scoring a late 20-yard goal on his weaker left foot.

And he almost made it two goals in two games at the Ricoh Arena, but Coventry goalkeeper Andy Marshall was in fine form to keep him out.

Cotterill added: "I was a little bit disappointed with one aspect of Kyle's play (at Coventry).

"We spoke about that. Last week he was good at it and this week he was not so good at it.

"But that's what you get from a kid. Everybody could say he's not a kid because he plays for Northern Ireland.

"But he's probably played for Northern Ireland more on the bounce than he has for us.

"That's because of the big man, small man scenario that Northern Ireland play at the moment.

"With James Quinn not being selected now, Kyle gets the nod.

"He's still only a young lad. I don't necessarily think, from week to week to week he's ready to play for Burnley."