STEVE Cotterill has laid down the gauntlet to Clarets teenager Kyle Lafferty in the wake of star striker Andy Gray's injury heartache.

Burnley will be without 10-goal marksman Gray for at least two months after he broke three metatarsals in his right foot in the closing minutes of Tuesday night's win over Leeds.

The loss of the £750,000 summer signing is a damaging blow for one of the smallest squads in the Championship.

But Gray's absence paves the way for 19-year-old Lafferty to stake a regular place up front alognside Gifton Noel-Williams.

The Northern Ireland international is the likely replacement for Gray, starting with today's league clash at Ipswich, and Cotterill is hoping he rises to the challenge.

"Andy will be out until Febraury and that is a blow for us," said Cotterill. "But there's opportunities now for other players to come into the reckoning, namely Kyle Lafferty.

"That's the only way we can look at it. Andy is going to be missed, but we've just got to try and get on with it.

"We are okay having that, but it was better having the three of them providing competition with each other.

"It's a big chance for Kyle. We have worked with him and we'll continue to do that.

"In my disappointment for Andy, my measure of delight is the same for Kyle.

"He is totally different to Andy and what we must remember is that Kyle is only a kid. He is not really ready for this, but now he is going to have to be.

"And if his form dips it means we may have to play a different formation.

"But I'm delighted for him. In my disappointment for Andy, my measure of delight is the same for Kyle."

Cotterill added: "Everybody knows what I'm like about a young player coming through at a club, because I've had them wherever I've been.

"Nothing gives me greater satisfaction to see Chris McCann and Kyle Lafferty out on the pitch because they will give everything they've got.

"But whether everything they have got is the same as what Andy Gray is something different."

Gray took his goal-tally into double figures when he scored the winner against former club Leeds to help end Burnley's run of three straight defeats.

Cotterill admits Gray's foot injury is a huge blow, but he senses there could be a long-term benefit to losing his leading marksman over the next couple of months.

He added: "I've been fighting over with myself for a few days, why is this happening again in the transfer window? It happens every year to me here.

"But I've come to the conclusion that maybe things are happening for a reason.

"It might be that our season is extended if we carry on playing well this season and if we bring Andy back in February after two months out, he may well be fresh!"