OWEN Coyle has backed homegrown striker Jay Rodriguez to blossom with Burnley.

The 19-year-old has enhanced his reputation since being promoted from the youth team in 2007 - particularly through some important goals this season.

The Burnley-born forward came off the bench to lay the Clarets’ path to the Carling Cup semi-finals with his last minute winner against Fulham in the third round.

Hitting a late extra-time winner in the FA Cup third round replay against Queens Park Rangers at Turf Moor, and setting up extra time in the semi-final second leg against Spurs with Burnley’s third goal, to equalise on aggregate, have contributed to the youngster earning more minutes in recent games.

And Coyle believes he is improving with every game.

“I would hope he's taken an awful lot from the experience,” said the Burnley boss.

“From the day I came into the football club I would hope he knew I had a high opinion of him and could make him better.

“I think he’s responded to everything we’ve asked of him.”

This time last year, Rodriguez was on loan to Scottish First Division club Stirling Albion, where he made his debut against Celtic at Parkhead in the Scottish FA Cup and scored a total of three goals.

Coyle feels he returned to Turf Moor a better player in the summer, and is continuing his development in a high-profile campaign for the Clarets.

"We sent him on loan to Scotland last year because I felt it was the right thing for him. He improved from that and we worked with him in the summer and gradually brought him in at the right time,”

he said.

"He's learning every day on the training ground and he's shown the one thing that everyone's crying out for in football, that he's a natural finisher. He knows where the goals are, but he has to continue working on a daily basis.

"I speak to him daily, and there's a lot of stuff that he can improve on.

"I'm trying to help him and nurture him with that, and if we can do that then we might find we've got a real player on our hands.”