BLACKBURN Rovers supremo Jack Walker has pumped £7m into a new state-of-the-art Academy to groom the club's stars of the future.

But Rovers' coaching staff may find out more about their young lions over the next few days in Jersey than they would in a whole season at their Brockhall training camp.

Assistant Academy director Rob Kelly was delighted to accept an invitation to compete in the international event, which also features crack European sides Sporting Lisbon and Benfica.

And he believes the experience will prove to be an invaluable education for the whole of his squad.

"We are delighted we got an invite because you find out a lot about your young players competing in a tournament with fixtures like this," said Kelly.

"If you see players playing well in these games then you know they have something about them.

"Benfica and Sporting Lisbon have both got great reputations in Europe, both at senior and youth level.

"And I believe they will present us with problems we don't normally encounter on a day-to-day basis.

"They'll play a different way and probably have a different technique and a different style to the kind of opposition we normally encounter.

"And then you've got the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United in there as well, who aren't bad sides either.

"So it's going to be a great education for all the boys."

Rovers have warmed up for the event with a string of friendlies against continental opposition.

Two weeks ago they held Argentinian aces Boca Juniors to a 2-2 draw at their Brockhall training base.

And they eclipsed that with a 4-0 victory over Norwegian outfit Rosenborg.

Kelly was delighted with the way his troops applied themselves in both encounters.

And he believes it merely confirms Rovers' status as one of the leading forces in Youth football in England.

"The lads acquitted themselves very well against World class opposition," said Kelly.

"And I think that only goes to show the big strides we've made at the club over the last few years. "At the moment there are six to 10 Academies who are right up there in England.

"That pack contains the likes of Arsenal, West Ham, Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool, Nottingham Forest and ourselves."

Already, Rovers' Youth system is starting to bear fruit at first team level with the likes of David Dunn, Marlon Broomes and Damien Duff all products of the club's Academy.

And now there's a new crop of youngsters ready to knock on the door over the next 12 months.

Ryan Baldacchino, Ben Burgess, Peter Murphy and Darren Dunning all joined Graeme Souness's first team squad for a pre-season tour of Germany.

And Kelly has high hopes for them over the course of the coming season.

"When the first team went out to Germany recently there were a number of players who had come through the youth set-up.

"I think eight out of the 22 lads who went out there had all come through the youth set up.

"And our ultimate aim is to get more in and around the first team."

In order to keep the cycle going, however, Kelly believes it's imperative to build successful sides at Academy level.

And now his young proteges have a great chance to prove their worth in Jersey.

"I am a firm believer that you produce players from winning teams -- there's no doubt about that -- because of the confidence it breeds and everything else.

"And this week gives us the chance to prove just how good we are."