ROVERS Academy coach Rob Kelly today insisted Jay McEveley has nothing to fear after the young defender received his first ever international call-up at the weekend.

McEveley was named in David Platt's England Under 21 squad for tomorrow's friendly with Italy in Carrara on the back of some mature displays with Rovers in the Premiership recently.

And Kelly was quick to tell his 17-year-old protege that he fully deserves the chance to show what he can do in the international arena following his meteoric rise over the last few months.

"I'm absolutely delighted for him, his mum and dad and the club," said Kelly.

"I was really pleased when I found out on Saturday night that he had made the squad.

"He's come a long way in such a short period of time and this shows the rest of our Academy players just what you can achieve if you put your mind to it.

"Jay rang me to tell me he'd been called up and one of the first things he said was 'who else was in the squad?'

"But I just said to him 'don't feel intimidated' because he's not been intimidated playing in the Premier League.

"It's amazing to think that only five months ago that he was carried off in an Under 19 game with a serious Achilles injury."

McEveley would not have played in Rovers' FA Youth Cup clash with Leeds United at Elland Road tomorrow, regardless of any call-up.