BURNLEY manager Owen Coyle said Andrew Cole's "hunger and desire" was a big factor in bringing the former Manchester United and England striker to Turf Moor.

The 36-year-old yesterday completed a loan move until the end of the season from Sunderland.

And Coyle has backed him to have a massive influence on the Clarets both on and off the pitch.

"I'm absolutely delighted to have a player of that calibre at the football club and for it all to come to fruition," he said. "He's got a big, big part to play and he is desperate to score goals.

"You only need to look and see he has been a top-class player all his days, at the very highest level.

"But I did my homework, and what I was really taken by when I sat down with Andrew and spoke to him was his hunger and desire.

"He still wants to show people he can play and score goals. He has bought into what we are trying to do and I'm delighted he was of the same mindset."

He added: "He will bring absolute top-class pedigree football, all-round aware-ness, and he will bring goals. I've no doubt about that.

"The lads we have got have been magnificent and Andrew joining us will just develop and help that.

"Everyone can obviously learn a lot from him."

Although in the autumn of a career spanning 18 years, Cole's record is second to none.

He has swept the board on the domestic cup front - winning the treble with Manchester United in 1999; he is a former PFA Young Player of the Year and ranked second in the Premier League's all-time scoring charts with 188 goals.

And Coyle insisted the former Newcastle, Fulham, Blackburn Rovers and Manchester City striker's advancing years did not give him cause for concern because of the way he has retained his fitness levels.

"There isn't an ounce of body fat on him. He really looks after himself," said the Burnley boss of Cole, who was capped 15 times for England between 1995 and 2001.

"There are footballers that play at the very top level for four, five, six years but he has been there all his days and been a top professional, and a lot of that is down to the way he really looks after himself.

"He sets an excellent example of what can be achieved if you do that.

"And 36 is a young age. I played until I was 39-40 myself," added the former Bolton Wanderers, Airdrie and St Johnstone front man.

It is just over 10 months since Cole joined Birmingham on loan from Portsmouth to contribute to the Blues' final push for automatic promotion, scoring once in five appearances.

Crucially, it was the opener in a 3-2 win at promotion rivals and neighbours Wolves.

And it is hoped he can have a similar impact as Burnley make a push for the top six.

"To go and pull all this together as we have done, I think it's a major signing and it gives the whole club a lift," continued Coyle.

"He has been the envy of supporters all over the world because he's scored goals against their teams.

"It's a very good piece of business, and hopefully not the last."

Cole is the second loan signing Coyle has made as manager of Burnley as he follows defender Stanislav Varga from the Stadium of Light.

Slovakian stopper Varga extended his stay until the end of the season this weekend, and the Clarets are still pursuing other targets before the transfer window closes at midnight tomorrow. A loan deal for Argentine left winger Marcelo Carrusca remains a possibilty.

Meanwhile Clarets target Derek Riordan does not appear to be leaving Parkhead before tomorrow's midnight deadline.

The 25-year-old striker had become increasingly frustrated at his lack of first team opportunities with the Scottish Premier League champions, but Burnley's offer of £400,000 fell short of their valuation.

Other teams have made enquiries about a loan deal, including Riordan's former club Hibernian, but his agent, Jim McArthur, said: "Five clubs were interested in taking Derek on loan but it appears that was a non-starter. There's only been one bid and that has been rejected. It doesn't look like he's going to be going anywhere."