Blackburn Rovers’ rising star Jason Lowe has set his sights on following Phil Jones into the England team one day as he prepares to return from suspension at Stoke City tomorrow.
Lowe, the latest youth product to emerge as a regular in the Rovers first team, missed Saturday’s 3-3 draw at Wigan Athletic after picking up a one-match ban for five bookings.
The 20-year-old watched the game in the away end at the DW Stadium, expressing his frustration on Twitter at being unable to help his team-mates on the field, but is likely to be back in the starting line-up when Rovers travel to the Potteries for tomorrow’s game, which kicks off at 12.45pm and is live on Sky Sports.
Lowe is capable of featuring either in midfield or at right back, with Michel Salgado likely to be assessed after being forced off with a head injury at Wigan, and that versatility has proved a real asset for Rovers boss Steve Kean this season.
The same was true last term of Jones, who featured in midfield and defence before joining Manchester United for £16.5m in the summer.
Jones has since gone on to make three appearances for England this term, with national team boss Fabio Capello comparing the former Rovers youth team player to European greats Franco Baresi and Fernando Hierro.
Having travelled to Colombia to represent England in the Under 20s World Cup during the summer, Lowe has now progressed to the under 21 squad and has ambitions to follow Jones into the senior squad in the future.
“Of course I have seen what Phil Jones has done and think how I would love to do that one day,” Lowe said.
“I am close with him and always have been. You do try and follow in his footsteps.
“First and foremost it is all about Blackburn Rovers and what I am doing here.
“International recognition is just a bonus and obviously the higher you go the more pleasing it is.
“I was captain of the under 20s in the World Cup and that was great and then to come back and play for the England under 21s, you are slowly creeping up the ladder.
“It is a good feeling but I just want to keep it going and hopefully long may it continue.
“All I say to myself and all my family say to me is as long as you come off that field and say you have given everything, what will be what will be.”
While Lowe returns from a ban tomorrow, Rovers will be without David Dunn at the Britannia Stadium because of a one-match suspended incurred for his red card at Wigan.
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