JAY McEveley's loan spell at Burnley is over following a freak knee injury sustained in the FA Cup victory at Mansfield.

Boss Stan Ternent was first to commiserate with Blackburn defender McEveley, who faces up to three months on the sidelines after dislocating a kneecap at Field Mill.

Cruelly the injury, involving no other player, occurred in the teenager's first start for the Clarets since arriving from Ewood Park in mid-December.

And Ternent was left to rue a sweet and sour day as Burnley cruised through to today's fourth round draw.

He confirmed: "Jay dislocated his knee and won't play again for 10 to 12 weeks. I heard it go because it was quite close to the dug-out, and our physio, Ian Liversedge, managed to get the knee back in, but unfortunately it's just bad luck again.

"It's one thing after another and, although we are in the hat for the fourth round and that is very important for us, it has taken the edge off the day."

Blackburn chief executive, John Williams, added: "I feel very sorry for Jay. We sent him to Burnley with the idea of getting some first team football, but it now looks like he could be out for up to three months."

Two goals from Ian Moore, his ninth and tenth of the campaign, secured the Clarets passage after they dominated the FA Cup tie against their fancied Third Division opponents.

And Ternent later revealed a controversial newspaper headline screaming from a Saturday tabloid provided the timely backdrop for a pre-match team talk that brought a welcome halt to a four-match losing streak.

Ternent, who last month handed an autographed copy of his book to a Sun reporter following another slur, explained: "It was a fantastic day for us to win at Mansfield, who are at the top of the Third Division and going very well.

"We won, and won convincingly and it's a big win for us. Everyone was tipping us to lose and I would like to thank the Sun again for my team talk.

"It said 'Burnley flops to Curle up and die at Mansfield', so I would just like to thank them for that."