RISING stars Jonathan Stead and Richard Chaplow are the toast of East Lancashire after opening up new chapters in their fledgling careers with England debuts.

Blackburn striker Stead stole the honours on his Under 21 bow, making an impression as a second half substitute and teeing up a dramatic late winner for Darren Bent.

But there was also cheer for Burnley fans as 19-year-old Chaplow re-wrote the record books, making a late appearance from the bench to earn the distinction of becoming the first player from Turf Moor to earn an England Under 21 cap.

Both players will surely now hope to play a bigger role in the revamp of David Platt's side following the disappointment of failing to qualify for this summer's European Championships.

It was truly a case of out with the old and in with the new for Platt, whose 22-man England squad contained just seven players with previous Under 21s experience.

But all eyes were on Stead and Chaplow and whether they would make the best of their chance to gatecrash the international scene.

For Chaplow, the chance to truly shine will have to come another day following the briefest run-out as an 83rd minute replacement for West Ham midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker.

The seven minutes will have surely ticked by far too quickly for the Clarets youngster, who has made the remarkable transition from reserve team regular to England international in under 12 months.

For now, he can take heart from the fact he is the first Burnley player to earn England recognition at any level since Andy Kilner picked up a youth cap 20 years ago.

And the sight of an England shirt framed on the wall of his Accrington home should be all the encouragement he needs to drive forward and stake a claim for future inclusion.

Rovers fans had to wait 67 tantalising minutes for Stead to make his entrance. The former Huddersfield hitman has become an instant darling of the Ewood Park faithful with two goals in as many games since making the £1.25m switch across the Pennines.

And the confidence was clearly coursing through the veins as he replaced England goalscorer Dean Ashton in attack and twice came within a whisker of continuing his hot streak.

Stead took time to adjust as he tried to run the left channel to good effect. But with England pegged back to 2-2 after goals in each half from Ashton and David Bentley were twice cancelled out by superb Dutch strikes, the rangy Rovers striker took centre stage.

He came close to making it a dream debut 18 minutes from time, spinning on the ball in the box and firing in a low drive that the keeper saved comfortably.

But the striker with a 100 per cent record in the Premiership turned provider with just three minutes left, easing past defender Michael Jansen and drilling the ball into the six-yard box for Ipswich striker Bent - the only England player on duty with an Under 21 goal to his name - to score his second goal in as many games.

Stead, 20, was then denied a potential debut goal of his own in stoppage time, breaking free down the left and attempting to chip the advancing keeper, who was lucky to escape with a clear hand ball well outside his area.

ENGLAND U21...3

HOLLAND U21...2

England: Scott Carson, Nicky Hunt (Justin Hoyte 46) , Liam Ridgewell, John Welsh, Glen Johnson, Steven Taylor, David Bentley, Nigel Reo-Coker (Richard Chaplow 83), Carlton Cole (Darren Bent 83), Dean Ashton (Jonathan Stead 67), Stewart Downing (Peter Whittingham 67).

Subs: Andrew Davies, Matt Kilgallon, Darren Ambrose, Michael Chopra, Andrew Lonergan (GK), Lee Grant (GK)

Goals: Ashton 23, Bentley 72, Bent 87

Att: 25,280