CHRIS McCann has been ruled out for at least two months with medial ligament damage, but former Burnley goalkeeper Danny Coyne has reassured the midfielder he is in good hands.

McCann limped off before the half-hour in Saturday’s 3-1 win over Sunderland, after challenging Black Cats’ midfielder Michael Turner for a 50-50 ball.

It has come as a savage blow to the 22-year-old, who was beginning to hit form in his debut Premier League season.

But Coyne has encouraged him to stick with a rehabilitation programme that he knows will be carefully crafted by head physio Andy Mitchell.

The 36-year-old underwent surgery in the September of his second of three seasons at Turf Moor after suffering both medial and anterior cruciate knee ligament damage in a game against QPR in 2005.

He made only 10 appearances in total that term, but he said the constant support and guidance from Mitchell helped him through painstaking rehabilitation, and he hasn’t looked back.

“Chris is in great hands; Mitch is a great motivator and knows exactly what he is doing,” said Coyne, who returned to the Championship after signing for Middlesbrough from Tranmere Rovers in the summer.

“He studied everything he needed to know about the injury and made sure I knew about and understood everything that was being done.

“It’s a blow for Chris. I’ve been keeping my eye out for Burnley and he has done fantastic. But he is a young, fit lad and if he just listens to Mitch and makes sure he does everything right in terms of the rehab he’ll be back in no-time.

“Mitch is a great guy and I can’t speak highly enough of him. He’s one of the best physio’s I’ve worked with and the fact he is hands-on is a big help.

“He does all the rehab programme with you. We had quite a few games of badminton and challenges on the rowing machine. He’s very competitive, but that’s good because he’s always pushing you and his theory is if he’s doing the best he can then that’s going to push you along as well.

“I know one or two lads have been back to see him, even after leaving the club, but touch wood I’ve not had anything wrong since.”

Although disappointed to lose a key player so early in the season, Coyle is confident McCann will come back stronger and more determined to make his mark on the Premier League.

"There's no doubt it's a hammer blow to him because I think he was all set to take the Premier League by storm, and he will when he comes back. It's just he'll have to delay that for possibly three months.

"It's very unfortunate, and a body blow for Chris, and that's where my thoughts are. Every time he's been available he's played in my team.

"I think the world of him, both as a player and as a lad. The good thing is he's at such a young age that he'll come back from that bigger and stronger and better for it.”

Coyle acknowledged there was no malice in Michael Turner’s first-half challenge, which prematurely ended the midfielder’s afternoon, but added: "I think the modern pitches have got something to do with it in the fact they're so firm underneath when you're leg's planted and there is any contact it can lead to these sort of injuries.

"It's very unfortunate and I'm genuinely gutted for him.

"But he'll get the best rehab with Andy Mitchell and Luke (Bussey) and I'm sure he'll come back a bigger and better player for the football club.”