BURNLEY striker Kyle Lafferty's season is over following an emergency operation to remove his appendix.

The 20-year-old underwent surgery after becoming "violently ill".

He has since been advised to rest for at least four weeks, so with only three games to play in a little over a fortnight, the Northern Ireland international will not play again this term.

"Kyle was rushed to hospital on Sunday night with suspected appendicitis, which it was," confirmed manager Owen Coyle.

"He was violently ill and in a bad way, so it was important we got it sorted out quickly because appendicitis can be serious.

"He has had to have his appendix removed and he will be out now for four or five weeks, which means his season is over. But the important thing is he gets back to full health."

The news comes as a major blow for Lafferty, who was relishing the striking role handed to him recently after playing largely on the left wing.

His goal against Barnsley at the end of last month, which came on the back of a Northern Ireland brace, was one which he had hoped to add to before the season finale in May.

But his campaign has been cruelly cut short by the condition, and he will now miss the remaining games against Southampton, Cardiff and Crystal Palace.

So too will Slovakian defender Stanislav Varga, who had already been ruled out of the previous four games with a recurrence of an old foot injury.

The on-loan Sunderland stopper has received injections in an attempt to ease the problem, but they were to no avail and he is now pencilled in for surgery.

"Stan was injured in the game against Wolves and we subsequently gave him a couple of injections," added Coyle.

"The foot has not responded to those injections, so he will have an operation in the next couple of days, but that is his season over too.

"It's a shame, but we have FROM BACK PAGE to move on and look to end the season well."

While it is highly likely Varga, who was signed on loan in January, will not return to Turf Moor, many supporters will fear that Saturday's 2-1 defeat at home to Sheffield United was they last time they will see Lafferty in a Burnley shirt.

The future of the Enniskillen-born striker has been the subject of debate for over a year.

The Clarets have managed to fend off bids from Wolves, Fulham and Celtic, with the Scottish Premier League giants having a £3million-plus offer rejected in January.

Sunderland were also monitoring Lafferty in the recent defeat to Norwich, and the interest of top flight clubs is not expected to cool with the transfer window re-opening on July 1.