BURNLEY loan star Gary Cahill has a big future ahead of him in the Premiership, according to David O'Leary.

The Aston Villa manager openly admits he sent his rookie defender to Turf Moor to "sink or swim".

And the 19-year-old stopper, who only made his senior debut in November, has passed his initiation test with flying colours.

O'Leary said: "I think it's been a great education for Gary and he's got a good chance. A few weeks after they (Burnley) took him, I told Steve Cotterill it wasn't about buying the player.

"This is a lad that I want to be pushed on because I've seen Gary as one that can really do it.

"I wanted to let him go out and prove himself. I knew it might be tough at the start, but he would either sink or swim.

"That's what I believe in and only time will tell, but he really is showing good signs and I'm very hopeful for him."

Meanwhile, Clarets boss Cotterill today admitted he would love to keep Cahill's Villa team mate Peter Whittingham at Turf Moor until the summer.

It had been thought the Villa midfielder's initial month on loan ended following last Saturday's 2-1 win over Rotherham United.

However, Whittingham is still available for tomorrow's trip to Wolves and the game at Sheffield United on Saturday - when Cotterill will look to secure his services for the final nine games of the season.

He said: "Peter is a young lad who has done really well and I am pleased with the way he has fitted in. Unfortunately for him, he's come at a time when we've had a few sticky results.

"It would be fantastic to have him here permanently, but I'm pretty certain he is going to be going back to Villa. Whether that is this week or at the end of the season I'm not sure, but I would like to keep him until the end of the season."

Goals from Tony Grant and Frank Sinclair got Burnley back to winning ways at the weekend.

And Cotterill insisted: "I'm certain 99 per cent of our fans would have settled for 50 points at this stage."