BURNLEY midfielder Chris McCann is scheduled to make his long-awaited return to action in a reserve match tomorrow night.

McCann was a key member of the Clarets’ promotion team two seasons ago but has been sidelined since the summer with continuing knee problems and has not played a competitive match for 14 months.

The 23-year-old also required an operation to remove excess fluid from his head last month after complaining of repeated migraines.

But he recently returned to full training and has now been pencilled in to feature for Burnley’s second string against Oldham Athletic at Turf Moor tomorrow, kick-off 7pm, providing he is not hit by any further setbacks.

The popular Irishman will still hope to be involved in the Clarets’ promotion race before the season is out but Burnley are likely to take a cautious approach, only reintroducing him into the first team once they are sure he is ready.

The Clarets had hoped McCann would return to make a major impact this season, as they bid to return to the Premier League at the first attempt.

But after making three appearances in pre-season he again suffered issues with his knee and was forced to undergo reconstructive surgery on his cruciate ligaments in August.

McCann had been a regular in the Clarets line-up until September 2009, when he suffered knee ligament damage in a Premier League fixture at home to Sunderland.

After four months out he returned in an FA Cup tie at Reading but was forced off just three days later in the league defeat at Bolton, later undergoing surgery to repair a cartilage tear.