Source: Team_Talk
Jones is on rapid rise - Allardyce
lackburn manager Sam Allardyce believes teenage centre-back Phil Jones is already pushing hard for a call-up to the full England squad.[LNB] The Rovers boss has defended his decision to block 18-year-old Jones from playing for England Under-19s at the UEFA U19 European Championships in France later this month.[LNB]Jones only made his full Premier League debut in March in a 1-1 draw at home to Chelsea but earned rave reviews for his performance.[LNB]In May, he signed a five-year deal at Ewood Park and England U19s coach Noel Blake was keen to take him to the tournament in Normandy, which starts this weekend.[LNB]But Allardyce has exercised his right to stop Jones going, telling the Lancashire Telegraph: "I don't have a problem with the Football Association.[LNB]"We said we would like to keep Phil for our pre-season preparations because we are a small squad and the Premier League starts in a month's time.[LNB]"But that was only after we had been told by the FA that he was going to be named in the next U21 squad.[LNB]"So we thought, what's the point in him going away with the U19s when he will be in the U21s as soon as the season starts? The FA were fine with that.[LNB]"He is a top young player and it's my belief in any case that he will be in the full England squad before very long."
