STEVE Cotterill has admitted his delight after midfielder Chris McCann put pen to paper on a new three-and-a-half year contract.

The 19-year-old star, who faces Southend in a vital Championship clash tonight, has cemented his place in the Clarets side this season with a number of superb performances.

The new deal, which will see the Irish youngster stay at Turf Moor until 2010, comes just days after Kyle Lafferty and Michael Duff committed to the Clarets.

And Clarets boss Cotterill was happy to secure the future of another of his rising stars.

He said: "For Kyle and Chris to come through is terrific. People were saying, when I first came here, that Richard Chaplow was the only player the club had brought through in 20 years.

"Well, I'm delighted that we've had two through in a couple of years since I've been here so we're pleased with that and even more delighted with them.

"To have two 19-year-olds who have got stronger throughout the season and have been in the team on a regular basis is a big bonus for a club like ours.

"It's another bonus that Chris is signing for three-and-a-half years and he's a good young player to have in and around the squad.

"Chris has been very adaptable but I'd rather him have nailed down with what I would call a proper position by now. But it is important when your squad size is down that you can play him in numerous positions and he's gone and done that this season.

"He's looked comfortable wherever I've played him. Chris has gone about his job very quietly in the background. I bumped into Steve Staunton, and Chris and James O'Connor were mentioned so I think Chris will have an international future.

"We're delighted that Chris has signed his contract but also delighted with the pair of them."

But that could be the last movement on the contract front for the time being, despite a number of Clarets players becoming free agents in the summer, as Cotterill said the club won't be talking to anyone else about new deals in the near future.

The Clarets boss also admitted the club had missed out on bringing in a right-back on-loan.