DAVID Thompson's latest wonder strike may not have been seen on television but the Rovers star is hoping that word might have reached England coach Sven Goran Eriksson.

The Swede will name his squad tomorrow evening for the start of the Euro 2004 qualifying campaign and the midfielder's stunning form since arriving at Ewood Park has suddenly seen his name in the frame.

But the 25-year-old is not taking any notice as he explained: "It's nice to hear that the manager is saying nice things about you but it's a distraction is all that, really.

"I just want to keep playing well for Blackburn. It's easy to say but I honestly do just want to focus my attentions on Blackburn Rovers."

That means his thoughts are focused no further ahead than tomorrow's clash with Spurs at Ewood and the chance for Rovers to repeat their success against them in the Worthington Cup Final last season.

With another big Premier League game following the UEFA Cup adventure he admitted he is loving being back in the spotlight.

"I'm enjoying it. Now I'm back in the Premiership, it's given me the chance to play with more talented players and I think that brings out the best in you," he said.

"It's difficult to get noticed in the first division, particularly after the ITV Digital thing killed all that last year.

"Even my family couldn't see me in the games where I was playing well and stuff because you don't get any attention.

"This is the only league to be in and, though I wouldn't say this is a rebirth, it is a chance to come back.

"I always thought I would come back anyway because I didn't think I would spend too long in that division, although I was getting a bit worried because two seasons out of it means it can get a bit out of sight, out of mind."

He has already settled in at Rovers and he likes what he has seen of the squad, feeling confident that the future is very bright.

"Dunny and Duffer are still young even though they are quite experienced," he said. "Nissa Johansson is only 22 and Lucas Neill is 24 so we are growing all the time and getting more and more experienced.

"These competitions can help you because situations like we faced on Thursday can definitely bring you on as a player.

"The country you go to and the surroundings you're faced with all have an affect on the way you approach the game and if you don't approach it right, you end up getting found out.

"I think we approached it right, we got our tactics right but we then went in the comfort zone at 3-0.

"But as soon as the first goes in, you know what's coming next. Then when the second goes in, you're ready for the seige.

'But they were definitely goals we could have prevented. We didn't close down wide. We let them get the crosses in and then the marking inside the box was a little bit lax so someone who was smaller than me managed to score a goal with his head.

"But if we can cut out the sloppy mistakes then we are going to be a really good team who are hard to beat."

Thompson hopes that will be the case against Glenn Hoddle's men tomorrow and he would love to see Andy Cole repeat his match-winning feat from the Millennium Stadium.

Cole only has one goal to his name this season but Thompson said: "He's doing a lot of unselfish work at the moment.

"He set Duffer's goal up at West Brom the other day then he produced a little tap in for Egil which was a nice gesture, really, because he could have taken it himself."

A winning goal for Cole against the man who often ignored him as England boss would complete a great week for Rovers and remind Thompson how great it is to be back in the big time.

And if it should all end with an England call?

"If I got a call up then I would be over the moon but if I deserve one then I'll get one."