Burnley are set for a huge boost with the early return of knee injury victim Chris McCann.

The midfielder feared his season was over when he suffered knee ligament damage in the 3-1 win over Sunderland in September.

The 22-year-old Dubliner not only tore his medial knee ligament, but scans revealed a cruciate tear as well. In normal circumstances such a serious injury would require surgery and bring a footballer's season to a premature end.

But McCann is happy to report his recovery is ahead of schedule thanks to the cruciate reattaching itself.

He told the Lancashire Telegraph: "At first they thought I had just twisted the knee but then we had a scan and we realised it was serious. The medial ligament was torn and the cruciate was torn as well. Someone said I could be gone for the season.

"That would have been so hard to take. All my life and all my career I had dreamed of this, playing every week in the Premier League and it would have been so cruel to have that taken away.

"All you want to do is get out and play but you have no idea when you will be back.

"Then we had about nine weeks before the next stage, but that's when I got the good news, that it was healing well. It basically healed itself. The doctors said it was a miracle.

"I have been back training for the last two weeks, just running at first, but it was great to join in with the lads again. It's very lonely when you are off on our own, and I kicked a ball for the first time two or three days ago. It was nothing too serious but still a big boost for me.

"I will need another two or three weeks to get up to the next level but if all goes well I will be back in training, no holds barred, very soon. I'd hope to get a couple of reserve games in after the new year and be available for that United game in January."