PHIL Jones insists pledging his long-term future to Blackburn Rovers will not hinder his international dreams as he refuses to have his head turned by the game’s big guns.

Rovers’ teenage sensation has become one of the Premier League’s hottest young properties after exploding onto the senior scene less than a year ago but is determined to keep his feet firmly on the ground.

Jones penned a bumper new deal that ties him to the club until the summer of 2016 last week after several of the league’s bigger clubs had enquiries for him turned down last month.

Chelsea are understood to have been just one of a number of sides seriously interested in the 18-year-old defender, with Arsenal having had a bid in the region of £8million turned down in the summer.

Rovers have seen the likes of Paul Robinson, Stephen Warnock, David Bentley and Chris Sutton been given limited international chances during their Ewood careers.

But, having already been named in a provisional England squad earlier this season, Jones is in no rush to quit Ewood Park and is adamant his international career can still flourish in East Lancashire.

He said: “I have not heard anything from England’s senior management team yet. I just concentrate on my football and doing well for Blackburn.

“I think if you are playing well for your club though and doing it week in and week out and the manager sees that then I don’t see why your club should affect why you can’t play for your national team.

“Gary Cahill has done well for Bolton, playing week in and week out. He deserved his chance for England and he got his chance.

“I don’t think whatever club you are at will stop you playing for England.

“Obviously one day I would love to play for my country at senior level and the way to do that is to focus on playing well for Blackburn Rovers.”

Jones is ahead of schedule as he continues his rehabilitation from undergoing knee surgery earlier this campaign and is hoping to return to first team contention for Blackpool’s visit on March 19.

England under 21 boss Stuart Pearce has been keeping constant track of the player’s recovery, with Jones himself just desperate to get playing again.

He said: “Obviously straight after picking up the injury I was really low for a couple of weeks but I had to pick myself up. I couldn’t feel sorry for myself.

“It was my first injury but I am feeling good now. I feel fitter, I feel stronger and can’t wait to get back playing again.

“I picked up an injury that I have never heard of before and I didn’t know how long I would be out. Obviously the surgeons have gone in and repaired it and I am happy with the recovery.”

While Jones remains content at Rovers, the Premier League’s top clubs are expected to continue to track his progress as they look to lure him away.

The defender is determined not to let any future speculation get to him though as he concentrates on doing what he loves, playing football.

“Of course you are aware,” he said. “Every footballer knows when people are interested but you just have to keep concentrating on your football and not let that bother you.

“It is a huge thing but I think I am quite strong minded and I don’t let anything like that bother me. I keep concentrating on my football and what happens out there happens out there.

“We are a good club, we have a good crop of young players mixed in with older players and the future is really bright.

"I do believe in this club. I believe we have a good squad who can push on and who knows where we can end up.”