DEFIANT Burnley manager Owen Coyle insists the January transfer window holds no fear, despite increasing interest in midfielder Chris McCann.

The Clarets spent the last two seasons rebuffing enquiries about McCann’s former team-mate Kyle L Ireland international eventually completed a £3.5million move to Rangers.

Although Dubliner McCann has yet to make waves on the international scene, his influential performances in the Championship have attracted the attention of potential suitors as the transfer market prepares for New Year sales.

Coyle has made no secret of his belief that McCann is already capable of playing in the Premier League, but feels the 21-year-old can take his game onto another level under his tutelage.

“If I was a manager at any other football club, you would look at Chris McCann - and I’m talking about the top level, because he has undoubted quality,” he said.

“It’s not a thing that I worry about because I, as a manager, have got an obligation, I think, to make Chris McCann the best player possible.

“That’s what we’re trying to do. If that means others are going to be looking at him in admiration - and I know that’s the case because I’ve had conversations with different people and they all know about his merits - but all we can do at the football club is keep doing our best.

“If people are calling you about your players it means you’re doing something right with them, and that’s all we’ll do.

“Anything like that will either be looked upon favourably, or it won’t be, it’s as simple as that.”

But Coyle is keen for McCann to remain a part of his ambitious plans and continue his progress at Turf Moor.

“From my perspective as a manager, I want Chris McCann here with me to continue his development as we’re doing, and I think we’re helping in that respect,” he said.

“But I think there’s more to come from him, and I want to be the guy to get that out of him.

“He is very level-headed, but I think he has an idea in his own head how his development’s coming about, how he sees it.

"He’s a very thoughtful kid.

“Ultimately the club will look upon it if and when the time ever comes.

“The level he’s playing at he’s got to keep producing it, and whatever’s going to happen will fall into place anyway.

“We’re trying to keep his feet on the ground, and I think he is.

"But he has to continue doing that and just keep doing well for the football club because the bottom line is, if he doesn’t, there won’t be any interest, it’s as simple as that.

“But I think he knows what he’s after, what he wants to do in football, and that’s all credit to him.”