FA Youth Cup semi-final preview: Seize the moment, says Blackburn Rovers young gun (From Lancashire Telegraph)

FA Youth Cup semi-final preview: Seize the moment, says Blackburn Rovers young gun

10:50am Wednesday 17th March 2010 in

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PHIL Jones has urged Blackburn Rovers’ stars of the future to ‘seize the moment’ and prove to the Ewood Park faithful tonight their club is in safe hands.

The 18-year-old defender will be at the heart of Rovers Under 18’s defence tonight for their FA Youth Cup semi-final first leg tie against Chelsea, and has challenged his team mates to take their big chance to ‘prove a point’.

Jones has already made three first team starts this season, as well as being a reserve regular, to earn a first professional contract, and he insists there are plenty more potential senior stars in the pipeline.

Rovers boss Sam Allardyce will be watching closely from the directors box, together with scouts from all the top clubs, and Jones believes this is the stage where performances are vital.

He said: “We are looking forward to the game. It will be tough, Chelsea are a very good side, but we go into the game believing we can win and we will do everything we can to do that.

“These are the games you want to be playing in and it is a big stage for all of us. I have had the taste of playing for the first team and I want more of that.

“All the players in this youth team though have the potential to go all the way. If we didn’t have the ability we wouldn’t be here but it is all about how we handle games like this. These are the moments you want to show what you can do.”

Jones has featured three times for the first team in cup competitions this season, impressing on each, but hasn’t made a senior appearance since the FA Cup defeat at Aston Villa at the turn of the year.

He admits his experience earlier this season has made him hungry for more though and hopes tonight, kick off 7pm, can be the start of better things to come.

Jones said: “Of course it is frustrating. Once you have played for the first team, you want to keep playing for the first team and it is only natural I am frustrated not to have been involved more.

“But I understand I have to be patient and have to keep my feet on the floor.

"I have achieved nothing yet and all I can do is keep working hard and keep doing my best for the youth team and the reserves.

“Hopefully I get another chance in the first team before the end of the season and, if I do, I have to be ready to take my chance again.”