CLARETS defender Michael Duff is backing striker Kyle Lafferty to become Burnley's next big thing.

The teenage striker, who made the break into Steve Cotterill's first team last season, marked a dream start to his professional career by getting a surprise late call-up to the senior Northern Ireland squad for their tour of America - where he could come up against Uruguay tomorrow and Romania next Friday.

Lafferty bagged his first Championship goal in the final league game of the season against Luton, as well as scoring three times in nine games in a loan spell at Darlington, and international team-mate Duff reckons the Clarets fans are about to see the young hitman come of age.

He said: "Kyle has had an unbelievable season. Nobody would have predicted what he has done.

"He went out to Darlington and did well there and he came back a totally different player.

"He got a little bit of league football under his belt and did well for the Northern Ireland Under-21s.

"But for him to be called into the senior squad is a fantastic achievement but nobody connected with the squad is surprised.

"The coaches have known about him for the last 12 to 18 months and if he can keep his feet on the ground he can be some player."

And Duff gave a huge thumbs up to the signing of another of his international team-mates, Steve Jones, who is set to sign a three-year deal on June 1.

The Clarets star knows all about Jones' capabilities having played against him and with him and he said the Clarets have got themselves a bargain.

"I know Jonah well," he added. "I've played against him when he was at Crewe and with him when we've played for Northern Ireland.

"He's a great signing for Burnley. He can run like the wind and he's a great finisher. He's also very adaptable because he can play out wide or he can play as an out and out striker.

"I reckon he can be a good foil for Andy Gray and I think it will prove a great piece of business for us."