GARY Cahill is gearing up for the biggest night of his life after joining Burnley on loan from Aston Villa.

The highly-rated reserve team regular, 18, has yet to feature in the first team at Villa Park under David O'Leary.

But Cahill will definitely step into the spotlight in front of the TV cameras tonight when Steve Cotterill's injury-ravaged Clarets take on Tottenham Hotspur for a place in the quarter finals of the Carling Cup.

That pits the rookie central defender, who recently made his England U20 debut, up against two of the hottest properties in the Premiership in Spurs' strikers Jermain Defoe and Robbie Keane.

And Burnley boss Cotterill admitted Cahill's rushed signing is a gamble forced on him through an alarming lack of defensive options.

He said: "Gary is still a young boy and it's going to be tough for him. With no disrespect to the lad, it's a deal we've gone into a little bit blind because we needed to find a centre half that can play and is not cup tied.

"But I have spoken to people about Gary and the Villa manager, David O'Leary, has done me a big favour.

"He is a big boy who is a decent athlete and he will go and compete. I don't normally like taking risks with players, but in our position needs must."

Cahill, a member of Villa's current FA Premier League Reserve League North and Youth Cup winning teams, steps up to provide welcome cover following an injury crisis at Turf Moor.

Frank Sinclair, John McGreal and Graham Branch all picked up knocks at the weekend, forcing Cotterill to delay naming his starting 11 until the last minute.

The Clarets chief, also definitely without five other first team regulars, including on-loan midfielder James O'Connor who is cup-tied, said: "This is a big game for the club and it's good for us to be getting this far in the competition.

"It's nice to have the TV cameras there and hopefully we will be able to get a side out that will do us justice.

"The injury situation is bad at the moment and I don't think there's any chance of any of the injured players returning.

"There's even a chance of us losing another, but we've got to get over that and long as we can put 11 players out we will give it our best effort and see what materialises."

Kick-off at Turf Moor is 7.45pm.