GOAL hero Kevin McDonald believes Burnley have got what it takes to win promotion this season, but admitted they must keep reproducing their outstanding Carling Cup form in the Championship to make it a reality.

McDonald struck twice to dump Arsenal out of the competition and earn the Clarets their first semi-final in 25 years by adding the Gunners to a list of Premier League victims including Fulham and Chelsea this term.

Afterwards the Scotland Under 21 midfielder admitted their taste of the big-time was one to savour.

But, with Burnley lying fourth in the Championship table, he knows the possibility of competing in the top flight next season cannot be ruled out.

“They’ve got the top young players in the world – that’s what Arsene Wenger does for them – but we’ve got players here, the young boys, who are trying to progress as well.

"And we’ve shown we can play against some of the top teams in the world so we’ll see how it goes,” he said.

“Everyone knows we play good football, and when we do that, we can beat most clubs.

“Some of the talent Arsenal have is unbelievable, but we matched them in every department.

“You’ve got to hope for games like this and to go on a run in a cup competition.

“We’ve done well and we’re here on merit, and hopefully that run continues.

“But obviously we’re wanting to go up and play in the top league but we’ve got to work hard, home and away, all the way through the season. We’ve got to keep on going.

“We know in and amongst the squad we’ve got what it takes, but sometimes we lack concentration.

“If we want to do anything in the league we’ve got to win at home but do well away as well.

“It’s the same for every team, but we’ve got confidence among the squad that we’re going to do something here, and come the end of the season we’ll see where we are.”

Saturday’s trip to Sheffield United is next on the agenda for Owen Coyle’s triumphant Clarets, and 20-year-old McDonald is hoping to have recovered from the knock which forced his precautionary early exit from Tuesday’s quarter final and build on his recent goalscoring trend.

“I don’t know how many games I’ve played without scoring and now I’ve got three in two games, so hopefully it continues.

"I just needed to get that edge in front of goal, but hopefully I’ve got it now and I can go on a bit of a run,” said the former Dundee midfielder, who scored 16 senior goals in his Dens Park career.

“It’s good to score one, let alone two, against teams like Arsenal in such a big game for us.

“The last round against Chelsea was obviously a big game - every game’s a big game down here, but these are the glamour games as they call them and it’s amazing to play in them.”