ROY Hodgson saw one of his Ewood wingers, Stuart Ripley, picked for England yesterday and promptly tipped another one for the top.

Youth international commitments for Damien Duff have restricted Hodgson's work with the talented Irish teenager so far.

But the Blackburn Rovers boss has already earmarked him as a star in the making - a player with an "exceptional future".

The 18-year-old Irish starlet was included in the senior squad for the first time under Hodgson at Selhurst Park this afternoon.

And, while he wouldn't say whether Duff would play in the short term - with a major injury doubt over Jason Wilcox - Hodgson clearly has no doubts about the youngster's long-term potential.

"It's very important for us to have him in the squad because we think he is a player with an exceptional future," he said. "And it's nice that he now has the chance to join us.

"Damien is a player who lacks only one thing - experience. I am very happy to give him that experience but I have to choose the right moment.

"The most important thing is that I juggle my squad in the right way.

"But he is a very strong contender for a place."

Tony Parkes gave Duff his Premiership bow in the final game of last season and he is obviously knocking on the door for the left-wing role.

Ripley's recall to the England squad for the World Cup qualifying game against Moldova crowned a great week for him.

As we revealed in later editions of last night's Lancashire Evening Telegraph, he was "surprised and delighted" by his selection.

And Hodgson said:"We are all delighted for him as someone who has spent a bit of time in the wilderness after such a magnificent year when the championship was won. It was a very nice phone call to receive from Glenn Hoddle and I am certain Stuart will go there and do his best.

"He's had more than his fair share of injuries and it's good to think that if a player shows the right attitude and determination there's always hope for him."

Meanwhile, Rovers' search for a goalkeeper goes on with John Filan expected to be ruled out for the rest of the season.

But the Aussie is confident that he still has plenty of football in him.

"I have no doubts the club will back me and it's just a matter of getting the injury right," he said.

"The diagnosis is that the operation was a success and I can make a 100 per cent recovery."

Filan remains philosophical and isn't bitter about what happened, as he explained in our later editions last night.

"Worse things happen in other people's lives," he said. "This is the first serious injury I've had and it's a new experience. But the club have been brilliant. The manager called me and Mr Walker also rang and spoke to me for about half an hour.

"I can't really say I am bitter (about the challenge). The lad's just come off the bench and wanted to impress.

"He dived in a little bit recklessly but it's no use me thinking about that now. I just have to think about getting better."

Colin Hendry, Kevin Gallacher and Billy McKinlay have all been included in the Scotland squad to face Belarus at Aberdeen next Saturday. But Scottish boss Craig Brown said he would be asking for an update on McKinlay's injury situation after the weekend. By PETER WHITE

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