McCann's like a £5m new signing, says Burnley striker

9:30am Friday 3rd September 2010

By Suzanne Geldard

BURNLEY might not be splashing any more cash until January at the earliest, but Martin Paterson believes they have their own £5million man in Chris McCann.

The energetic midfielder has had consecutive seasons ruined by knee injuries and his latest – sustained during the Clarets’ pre-season tour of Singapore – has required a full reconstruction of his cruciate knee ligament, ruling him out until February at the earliest.

But Paterson, who spent much of his own recovery from knee cartilage damage alongside McCann last term, has backed the 23-year-old to have a huge impact on his return, even if it is only towards the end of the campaign.

“The positive thing is, if he comes back fit any time this season, what a player to receive back,” said the striker, pictured left.

“He looked fantastic in pre-season. I think he played in the first couple of games and out in Sinapore he was by far the best player on the pitch and just fell awkwardly again on to his knee.

“It’s terrible for him, and it’s devastating for the club. I think he’s the biggest loss we could ever have.

“You talk about missing players, I think Chris being injured last year coincided with us being relegated because he’s so important for us.

“But Chris is a top player and he’ll spend most of his career in the Premier League, I’ve no doubt in that.

“I don’t think fans or people see how important he is to the squad. If you’re an intelligent footballing mind I think you’ll realise the job he does in midfield, breaking forward, scoring goals - just being probably the most energetic player throughout the league.”

Paterson, who is set to face Slovenia in Northern Ireland’s opening Euro 2012 qualifier tonight, spent three months of last season on the sidelines after requiring knee surgery in September 2009 following an injury sustained in the Carling Cup defeat at Barnsley, just three days after McCann limped off with the first of three consecutive knee problems.

“We used to go on cross-country runs to get fit and he just stretched away from me. I can’t say what I thought of him at the time!” said the 23-year-old of their joint rehabilitation last season.

While Paterson made his comeback in January and went on to score four Premier League goals, Dubliner McCann was far less fortunate, as he suffered a secondary knee injury in his first league game, at Bolton, that month.

“It’s terrible. To miss the Premier League season pretty much and then to come back and get injured again, he’s been unlucky,” he said.

“But he’s mentally strong. He’s a tough lad, and hopefully he just gets back fine.”