Jones Makes The England Under-21 Squad

Blackburn Rovers defender Phil Jones has been called up by England Under-21 Coach Stuart Pearce.

Jones’ reward for a superb breakthrough season at Ewood Park is a first call up to the Under-21 squad for the friendly against Uzbekistan next week, ahead of September’s resumption of the European Under-21 Championship Qualifiers. Pearce felt that the Rovers youngster’s performances last season meant he had to be given the chance.

Pearce said: “Phil Jones did fantastically well at the back end of last season at Blackburn. Anyone who gets in and plays in the Premier League has got to be taken seriously. He’s still a very young player.“

Sam Allardyce has already tipped Jonesy to make the breakthrough into the Full England squad sooner rather than later, however, the first steps along the road to International stardom for the Rovers teenager have began.