CHRIS McCann has received the backing of former Burnley captain Graham Alexander, who believes the midfielder is the right fit for the club.

At 24, McCann is one of the youngest skipper’s in the club’s history.

Manager Eddie Howe’s decision to give the armband to the Dubliner has been questioned by a section of supporters, who fear he is not yet ready for the role and that it is having a negative impact on his game.

But as Burnley head to Alexander’s home town of Coventry this afternoon, aiming to recover from back-to-back defeats, the 40-year-old knows more than most that age is just a number and believes his successor will be a natural leader.

“When you’re first given the captaincy you’re thinking about things all the time and what you should be doing as captain, as well as playing. But in a couple of years time it just comes naturally. He’ll do it without even thinking about it.

“It will bring a maturity to his game,” said the defensive midfielder, who captained the Clarets in the Premier League when Steven Caldwell was injured, and took on the role full-time at the start of last season.

“I spoke to him to wish him all the best before the start of the season, and called him ‘Skip’, and he quite liked that!

“Chris is a top pro, he trains hard and he’s a top player. I think he’ll take it on board and benefit from it and I think he’ll actually enjoy the responsibility.”

But Alexander admitted all players need time to adjust to the demands that come with captaining a side.

“When I was first given the armband I was a lot older than Chris. I was probably about 28 or 29,” said the 1,000-game man.

“It changes you overnight because you know you can’t just be thinking about yourself. You’re wondering how the game’s going and what needs changing and who’s not on top of their game and how you can encourage them.

“There are so many responsibilities that come with being a captain. But for such a young lad Chris has already got a lot of experience and he’ll have the respect of the other lads because he’s a top player.

“I think it will only improve him.”

Alexander felt his former team-mate Michael Duff would also have been a good candidate for the role, but with the club looking to establish a younger squad, he added: “I can see the long-term benefits of having Chris McCann as captain. He could be in that role for two or three years and be at the top of his game.”