BURNLEY teenager Chris McCann began the New Year with a dream goal at QPR - and was then given time off to celebrate Christmas!

The Irish youngster, who signed his first professional contract last week, came up with a sensational strike in the 1-1 draw at Loftus Road yesterday.

And boss Steve Cotterill, who has been trying to pin the 18-year-old down to a long-term deal for several weeks, told the midfield starlet to head home and get ready for a bright future.

"It's nice to have Chris playing after finally signing that contract," said Cotterill.

"He could have been playing a couple of weeks ago if he had signed it, but now he has and we are delighted. He is a fantastic prospect and we just have to make sure we look after him and nurture him in the right way.

"Chris has not had a game for a while and it will be interesting to see where he is if he gets a run of four or five games in the team. But for now he is just looking forward to celebrating Christmas and New Year because we've sent him home."

Cotterill understandably felt his side should have been celebrating themselves after dominating hosts QPR in the opening half, yet only having McCann's stunning 10th minute goal to show for their superiority.

And after keeper Simon Royce twice pulled off impressive saves to deny Ade Akinbiyi and James O'Connor, a defensive mistake on the stroke of half time cost the Clarets dear.

"I thought we did enough to win the game and probably should have been four goals up by half time," insisted Cotterill.

"Their keeper made three outstanding saves after we scored and two of those were special. If they go in, then it's game over but then Jon Harley and Brian Jensen got involved in a bit of a mix-up."

"They have both put their hands up and said they made a mistake, but these things happen.

"This was the fourth game in a week, but I thought our energy levels were fantastic and I'm delighted with the boys. "We've had a couple of iffy results in the last couple of games, but maybe this is a measure of how far we have come.

"Last season at QPR we were three goals down by half time and it could have been six.\ "Yesterday, we could have been out of sight by half time, but we don't have any complaints because somewhere down the line we will win a game we've deserved to draw."