BLACKBURN Rovers midfielder Brett Emerton today said Guus Hiddink would be the perfect choice to succeed Sven Goran Eriksson as the next manager of England.

Hiddink, the vastly experienced former Real Madrid boss, has been widely touted as one of the leading candidates to take over from Eriksson when the Swede steps down from his post after the World Cup in Germany later this year.

The Dutchman has already publicly hinted he would be willing to talk to the FA about the top job in English football should they decide to approach him.

And Emerton believes the current Australia and PSV Eindhoven coach would make an ideal candidate after he being impressed by the way he's transformed the fortunes of the Socceroos since taking charge last year, leading them to their first World Cup since 1974.

Emerton, who was hoping for a start in Rovers' fourth round FA Cup tie with West Ham today, said: "I think very highly of him, so if England were to get hold of Guus after the World Cup they will be very lucky.

"I've only worked under him for a short time, but what I have seen of him is very good.

"He is very tactically astute - there is no doubt about that. You just have to look at what he has done with South Korea, the Australia team and PSV.

"He is also a good man-manager and he knows how to get the best out of each and every player and what motivates them.

"He has done an exceptional job for the Australian national team since he arrived and I can't speak highly enough of him.

"He changed a lot of things when he first came in, mainly the TURN TO PAGE 35 FROM BACK PAGE formation of the team.

"Defensively, we have struggled for quite a long time with the national team, but he has come in and readjusted the side and he seems to have strengthened us in that regard."

Hiddink certainly has the kind of credentials you would want to see in an England manager, having tasted success at both domestic and international level with PSV, Holland, South Korea and, more recently, the Aussies.

He also likes his teams to play an attacking style of football, which was made famous by the Johan Cruyff-inspired Dutch national team of the 1970s.

"He allows us to be creative and that is the Dutch mentality," said Emerton.

"There are not too many long balls - he likes the passing game - and that is something he tries to pass on to us.

"He is a great coach and I am sure he will be wanted by a lot of nations and clubs.

"But if we go to Germany and do well, maybe he will be tempted to stay on. It is his decision."

In the meantime, Emerton knows he must impress Hiddink by playing well for Blackburn to guarantee he makes the Australia squad for the World Cup.

He added: "I am sure there will be plenty of opportunities to play before the World Cup and, at the moment, I am just working hard in training and doing my best to get back in the (Blackburn) team."