OWEN Coyle says he wants to build his team around youngsters Kyle Lafferty and Chris McCann.

The 20-year-old duo have been continually scouted by Premier League clubs over the last two seasons, with Burnley rejecting a £3million-plus offer from Celtic for Lafferty in the January transfer window.

The Northern Ireland international's season has drawn to a premature close following an emer-gency operation to remove his appendix, sparking a debate whether Saturday's defeat to Sheffield United was his last game in a Clarets shirt.

But manager Coyle has stressed he will remain just as determined to fend off any advances that might occur in the summer as he bids to establish a vibrant, young squad.

"We turned down a big, big bid from Celtic and there has been interest from other clubs. But the club showed fantastic resolve to turn that down," he said.

"I'm trying to build a team and I certainly see Kyle Lafferty and Chris McCann being a part of that.

"When I came in I inherited a squad of good players, but a lot of those were on the wrong side of 30.

"They all have undoubted experience and have their part to play, but when you're looking to bring players in, you're looking at getting younger legs in and inject a bit of pace and power into the team.

"There's no doubt we've got quality, as we've said before.

"But there was work to be done when we came in and we tried to add a few within our price range and budget.

"When Sheffield United came on Saturday, I think their budget was five times ours.

"Having said that, we should never have lost the game.

"We made 400 passes in the game which, in the Championship, is unheard of.

"But James Beattie cracked a wonder goal in, and from a game we were in charge of, we're 1-0 down.

"But there is a lot to be positive about, bearing in mind the fact we know what we're wanting to do and we see our youngest players being integral."