TEENAGE striker Jemal Johnson has committed his long term future to Blackburn Rovers by signing a new contract.

The 19-year-old forward has been handed a two and a half year deal by Rovers boss Mark Hughes as a reward for his recent rise to prominence in the first team.

Johnson began the season in the reserves but he managed to muscle his way into Hughes' first team squad at the beginning of January and he has stayed there ever since, culminating in his goal against Colchester United on his first senior start last month.

Now the confident American appears to have leapt ahead of Jonathan Stead, Matt Jansen and Jay Bothroyd in the pecking order for places up front and the signing of a new deal means he is free to concentrate on the task of establishing himself as a first team regular.

"I'm really happy to have been given the chance to further my career," said the New Jersey-born forward, whose old deal was due to expire in the summer.

"It has been on my mind for a few weeks, but now that it's been done and dusted I was happy to sign.

"If I keep working hard I'm sure there'll be better things to come.

"It has been a good experience for me playing against big teams and being involved and I hope to be a first team regular."

Johnson has made five appearances in the first team so far, the latest coming as a second half substitute in Sunday's FA Cup clash with Burnley at Turf Moor.

In the meantime, Rovers' chief executive John Williams has admitted there will be even more pressure on security at next week's replay against the Clarets after what happened in the first tie but he is confident the club can deal with it.

Sunday's game was marred by three pitch invasions and a coin-throwing incident and the fan who confronted Robbie Savage was jailed for five months yesterday.

The FA have already contacted Burnley to talk about the incidents, while Rovers held talks with Lancashire Police yesterday to discuss the plans for the rematch, which could be an even more tense occasion given that the tie must produce a

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winner on the night.

Williams said: "This time it will be an evening kick off and at the end of it there will be a definite result, so that will bring with it extra pressures to what we had on Sunday.

"But we have a blueprint here at the club which we have great faith in and we will not be complacent. We are hopeful that the game will pass off without incident."

FA chief executive Brian Barwick has already expressed his concern at what happened over the weekend.

As well as the security problems at Turf Moor, trouble also flared in the tie between Everton and Manchester United at Goodison Park.

Barwick said: "Last weekend's FA Cup ties produced lots of headlines, unfortunately many highlighting the problems at Everton and Burnley.

"Thankfully, these days such incidents are few and far between, but let's be clear - missile throwing and pitch invasions are not only unacceptable, they are also a criminal offence.

"The safety of the players and indeed everybody in the stadium during any match has got to remain an absolute priority."