FORMER Blackburn Rovers starlet David May believes it is important Blackburn Rovers stay true to their traditions and insists the emergence of players like Phil Jones is the way to do it.

May, who enjoyed Premier League and European Champions League success during his nine-year Manchester United spell, started his career in the youth ranks at Ewood Park and he believes Jones could enjoy similar success.

The versatile defender sees similarities between his own progress at Rovers during the late 1980s and early 1990’s and Jones’ own development.

Jones, 18, made his senior debut aged just 17 earlier this season and, going on to make seven league starts, has already been attracting interest from some of the Premier League’s biggest clubs.

May said: “Even at Manchester United they have Neville, Scholesy, Giggsy, if you have the nucleus of home grown players then that can only be good for the club and the area as well.

“The one thing is you have the club at heart. A lot of foreigners come over and they don’t really care about the club, all they’re worrying about is getting the money.

“So it’s important you have kids coming through who are from the area as well. Phil Jones has had a fantastic start and long may it continue.

“There were a few of us when I was at Blackburn. There was me, Keith Hill, Jason Wilcox and Lenny Johnrose so we did well and all of us went on to be quite successful.”

May also has some words of caution for Jones though, insisting the hard work starts now as he looks to fulfil his obvious potential.

With Ryan Nelsen, Chris Samba and Gael Givet probably ahead of him in the defensive queue at the start of the campaign, May believes patience could prove vital for Jones.

“I was pretty lucky,” said May. “I played one game when I was 18 and then Don Mackay, Rovers manager at the time, came in and I started the season. From then on the more games you play the more confident you get and the better players you play with the better it is for you.

“You’ve got to be patient and you’ve got bide your time and when the time comes you’ve got to take it. That’s what he’s going to have to do.

“He’s going to have be patient and bide his time, but if he’s got the right advice and is listening to the right people and he keeps focused he’s got a great chance of having a successful career.

“Phil has done well, the games I’ve seen him in he’s done extremely well. It’s nice to see young kids coming through, it’s about time.

“It shows that the academy is doing the right thing and from the games I’ve seen him play he’s done extremely well. it’s good having potential, it’s what you do with it as well.

“As long as he keeps working hard and listening to the right people then he’s got a great chance.”