The influential midfielder, a virtual ever-present in Owen Coyle's starting line-up, suffered medial knee damage during Saturday's 3-1 win over Sunderland at Turf Moor.

And on Monday the Clarets manager confirmed that scans have confirmed the worst.

Coyle said: "It's fair to say that Chris has suffered a bad injury and I would expect it to be a minimum of two to three months.

"He has damaged his medial ligament and it will certainly be a couple of months before he is back.

"It's very unfortunate and a body blow for Chris. That's where my thoughts are because whenever he has been available he has been in my team.

"I think the world of him, both as a player and a lad and the good thing is he is at such a young age that he will come back better and stronger for it.

"There's no doubt though that it's a hammer blow for him.

"He was all set to take the Premier League by storm - and he will when he comes back!"