BURNLEY manager Eddie Howe has revealed the club is in the process of offering Chris McCann a new contract, despite the midfielder missing all of the season so far through injury.

The popular Dubliner has played only 100 minutes of first team action since his Premier League dream was cut cruelly short six games into last season.

McCann suffered a succession of knee injuries, which led to him having surgery to reconstruct his cruciate knee ligament in August.

The 23-year-old, whose current deal expires in the summer, is making his comeback through the reserves and stepped up his recovery by playing for an hour against Morecambe on Tuesday, after completing a 40-minute run-out from the bench against Oldham the week before.

And although Clarets boss Eddie Howe has yet to see McCann in first team action, he admitted he is ready to put his faith in the youth team product as he looks ahead to next season.

“Contract wise we’d love Chris to stay. He’s been out injured a long time but there will be something there for him,” said Howe ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Leicester City, where the Clarets will be looking to half a run of four games without a win and give their top six hopes a shot in the arm.

“We want to look after him and make sure that he can really concentrate on his football and not worry about anything else.

“We have made an effort to keep him but we'll wait and see what happens and what Chris wants to do.”