Carnoustie-born McDonald, 20, shrugged off the advances of bigger clubs in the summer to join Burnley in a £500,000 (€585,000) move from Dundee.

Former St Johnstone boss Coyle believes the personal touch helped him land the Scotland Under-21 international.

“I have known Kevin since he broke into the Dundee first team, ” he said. “I had a couple of meetings with him and met his mum and dad as well. They knew the way I worked in Scotland with St

Johnstone.

“Kevin comes from a very close-knit family and I felt it was important his parents knew he would be looked after. I said we would do our best for him.

“I think they were comfortable with that. As a parent you worry when your child leaves home.”

Coyle also laid-out his blueprint for the player, who signed a three-year contract with the club.

He said: “There was a lot of interest in Kevin but I told him he would get an opportunity to play in the first team.

“I felt that going somewhere else and playing in the reserves would be a step back for him.

“Kevin is growing with the club and has responded well after being injured. He did not want to come off last night but he had taken a knock.”

Wembley lies on the horizon and Coyle has praised the mind-set of his players.

Burnley currently lie fourth in the table despite having lost their first two league games, conceding seven goals in the process.

Coyle said: “The heartening thing is the players retained that hunger and belief despite a poor start. We knew we could win games at our level.

“Now we are showing we can step up a gear as well. Not only that, people can see we can play a bit as well.

“We were brave against Arsenal in terms of passing and moving the ball when we had to. That was pleasing.”