BLACKBURN striker Matt Jansen today admitted he owes Graeme Souness a huge debt of gratitude for keeping his World Cup dream alive.

Former Under-21 star Jansen had virtually given up all hope of getting the call from England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson.

However, thanks to some stunning performances for Rovers in the Premiership since the turn of the year he now has the chance to stake an 11th hour claim for Japan and Korea after being named in the England squad to face Paraguay at Anfield tomorrow.

And the former Crystal Palace star has been quick to acknowledge the part Souness and strike-partner Andy Cole have both played in him being handed his late opportunity.

"This call-up was a surprise. I thought the boat had passed me by. I hadn't quite given up -- but almost," said Jansen.

"Since Graeme Souness has come in my form has been better.

"In the last two years I have learned so much from him and hopefully I am now ready and will be given the chance to prove myself with the senior squad.

"He has got me playing more as a team player. I was running down blind alleys before I came and he called me a bit of a circus act.

"He has been really pleased with the way I have come on and I owe him a lot.

"And Andy Cole has also been a big help, too. We had been short of strikers and I was playing a lot of the time in a lone role up front.

"I'm not the biggest target man in the world and it was a bit of struggle at times. But since Andy has come in we've both been scoring goals and playing well together.

"He creates space for you. He is a quality player, a proven goal scorer and it's been like a breath of fresh air since he arrived."

Jansen was so convinced that his chance had passed him by that he had even booked his holidays in the summer.

But now he faces the prospect of causing a family rift as he makes a last-gasp bid to gatecrash England's World Cup party.

He was due to fly out to Vancouver to act as an usher for younger brother Joseph, who will be tying the knot in Canada on June 15.

However, those plans may now have to be revised if he can make enough of an impression on Eriksson.

"I had booked holidays so I had given up in reality and I may now have to miss my brother's wedding in Canada," said Jansen.

"I am sure he would be upset if I missed the wedding but I'm also sure he would be delighted as well because it means I would be in the World Cup squad.

"I'm sure I'll be forgiven although I think my dad wants to go to the World Cup and it's causing a few rifts in the family!"

Jansen has just one chance to impress before Eriksson announces his squad for the finals but he has taken great encouragement from the example set by Darius Vassell.

"I had almost given up. But you can definitely take heart from what has happened with Darius Vassell.

"He came in for his debut and did fantastically well for England and if I can copy that then I will be delighted. I don't feel as if I am under more pressure because it's just one game.

"If I do well, then they've got one game to look back on and say he played well', whereas if I had another game I might do badly.

"It's up to me to make the most of the opportunity but I am just going to enjoy it and whatever happens will happen."

The Aston Villa striker had appeared to be down the pecking order for Japan and South Korea until he scored a stunning goal on his international debut against Holland in Amsterdam in February.

That has put him in the driving seat for the fifth striking spot behind Michael Owen, Emile Heskey, Robbie Fowler and Teddy Sheringham for the 2002 finals, even though his form has since dipped at club level.

And now Jansen is looking to grasp the nettle in similar circumstances when he gets the opportunbity at Anfield.

"When I was playing for Carlisle everyone was saying that I would play for England one day and I am living out a dream at the moment.

"But I hope it will continue and be a successful dream - and I am very confident I can make the step up at senior level with the squad.

"I may only get 45 minutes against Paraguay or even less to show what I can do and I know it is a late chance for me."

If Jansen does get a dream ticket to the finals then he will postpone a hernia operation until later in the summer.

"The problem won't get any worse by me carrying on playing. I've had it for two or three months and after games I get a little bit stiff.

"I was going to have surgery as soon as the season finished but if I am selected for the World Cup I can put it on hold until we get back."