ST JOHNSTONE veteran Derek McInnes insists Owen Coyle will have a burning ambition to steer Burnley into the Premier League.

Coyle is set to be announced as the new Clarets manager this morning before taking charge of his first Championship game at Stoke City on Saturday.

Although the 41-year-old former Bolton Wanderers striker has no management experience in England - and is perhaps not the big-name' boss that most Clarets fans were expecting - McInnes believes Burnley have struck gold with their latest appointment.

The former Scotland international, who has enjoyed spells with Rangers and West Brom in a long career, has the inside track on Coyle.

They were both team-mates at Dundee United in the 2003/04 season and, as St Johnstone manager, Coyle signed McInnes from Millwall in January this year.

McInnes is disappointed to see Coyle break ranks with the Scottish First Division outfit, especially on the eve of their Scottish Challenge Cup final against Dunfermline on Sunday.

But the 36-year-old midfielder also understands how determined Coyle is to further his managerial career.

"Owen's got as good a chance as any manager of taking Burnley into the Premier League," said McInnes "One thing is for sure. He will have the same aspirations of the Burnley board to get into the Premier League.

"Nothing will faze him at Burnley. Any manager going to a new club wants to get off to a good start and to start off well with the supporters.

"But I'm sure in his first week or so there, he will know what areas need looking at and strengthening. He's no mug, he knows the game."

Coyle, a former Republic of Ireland striker, has made an encouraging start to his management career.

He led St Johnstone to last season's CIS Cup and Scottish Cup semi-finals, and they only missed out on promotion to the Scottish Premier League when Gretna scored a last-gasp winner at Ross County on the final day of the season.

His success courted the attention of several clubs during the summer, notably Motherwell and Inverness Caledonian Thistle, but McInnes believes Coyle's ability is better served on a much bigger stage.

He added: "No dispect to those clubs, and no disrespect to St Johnstone, but Burnely is a much bigger club and the English Championship is a big league.

"Owen has said he wanted to manage in the Scottish Premier Division - and he wanted that with St Johnstone. He's very ambitious.

"But this is a fantastic opportunity for him. I know what Burnley is like - I played at Turf Moor about four or five times during my time at West Brom. They can get big crowds and a big atmosphere.

"They love their football at Burnley. I think it's a fantastic opportunity for him as manager, but for Burnley, they have got a very good deal."

McInnes believes that Coyle will not only prove a major hit with supporters - but with the Clarets players too.

He added: "I played with Owen at Dundee United and he's a very infectious type.

"He's a bubbly, enthusiastic guy. He still thinks along the same lines of the players.

"The one thing that the Burnley players will enjoy is the training - it is all football-related.

"He keeps a happy dressing room and that's a very important part of a successful club. There was always a good atmosphere around the place."