TONY Parkes is tipping David Dunn to make the full England squad soon - and fulfil the potential he always knew the local lad had.

Dunn, who came through the ranks at Ewood, is already the England Under 21 captain and has been hitting the headlines with his Premiership displays, watched by England manager Sven Goran Eriksson.

The Rovers assistant boss has watched him grow up - and thinks a full cap for his country would be just reward.

"He has scored some great goals but you expect that from midfielders," said Parkes.

"Midfielders tend to score spectacular goals because they are not usually in the box. Dunny enjoys his long range strikes and that is one of his strengths.

"Obviously he has come through the youth side and we have watched him progress.

"As a young player he always had good qualities and they have just been nurtured. He has always had abiltity, a good shot and he is good in the air.

"We now hope he can keep it going and fulfill his potential and become an even better player. "We are just glad we have him here at Blackburn and hope that he can go on to play for England."

Dunn is in a rich vein of form scoring three goals in the last two games - one in the 7-1 win over West Ham and two in the 3-3 draw at Arsenal.

"Dunny scored 18 goals last season and he has started this season in great form," said Parkes, although he agreed with manager Graeme Souness's assessment that the midfielder needed to improve his defensive qualities.

"David is only a young player," continued Parkes. "And I think players have their different strengths.

"Dunny will never be a Garry Flitcroft or a Roy Keane. He is not that type of player in terms of defensive work.

"He has got to improve and show willing to help the team when they haven't got the ball.

"But he is an attacking player and sometimes other players may have to compensate.

"He is an exciting player. He can get past players, he can create goals and he can score goals.

"He is only a young lad and has still got things to learn.

"There are a lot of quality players in the England line-up and a lot of young ones but I expect Dunny to win a full England cap soon." Matt Jansen and Garry Flitcroft have also been mentioned in connection with an England call-up.

"They were the three English players that started the game against West Ham. I'm sure if we had had a fourth he would have been mentioned as well!" laughed Parkes.