It is exactly a year ago today that Owen Coyle stepped into the Burnley managerial hot-seat. It has been a successful period for the Scot and, as he prepares his side for this afternoons’s league fixture against Doncaster at Turf Moor, we look back at his first 12 months.

IT was Brendan Flood who made the most audacious summary of Owen Coyle when the Scot assumed the Clarets managerial post exactly a year ago today.

“When we first spoke to Owen, he struck me as being like a young Bill Shankly,” said the club’s operational director, unveiling Coyle 12 months ago.

“That’s a big label to give him but there are definitely similarities. He has the same steely determination.”

Most outsiders raised an eyebrow or two as Flood poured out the tributes to Coyle who, back then, was a completely untried manager in the Football League.

The former Bolton and Republic of Ireland striker had built a name for himself north of the border, steering St Johnstone to the semi-finals of the Tennent’s Scottish Cup and CIS Insurance Cup, while he came within a whisker of leading the Saints to promotion to the SPL.

However, there was a feeling that perhaps his lack of managerial experience in England may count against him.

But in the past year, Coyle has swatted aside any concerns against his CV.

And what an impact he has made.

The Clarets are playing their most attractive football in a long time – on a consistent basis – and pulling in results along the way.

Realising that an ageing squad needed work last summer, Coyle released much of his old guard to bring in fresher, younger players that have brought about a new energy at Turf.

The likes of Chris Eagles and Martin Paterson have given Burnley fresh impetus, and much-needed re-inforcements were made to improve upon a once-porous defence.

Crucially, Coyle has instilled the Clarets with confidence. They simply don’t know when they are beaten.

Their sensational Carling Cup victory over Chelsea was testament to Coyle’s philosophy at Burnley, while they face Doncaster having lost just one of their last 18 matches.

The new Bill Shankly? It’s too incredible a comparison – but Coyle has proved in quick time that he’s on the way to becoming one of Burnley’s all-time great managers.