BLACKBURN Rovers’ young guns have been warned ‘don’t start believing your own hype’– with Steven Nzonzi the first to fall victim to his own success.

Last season’s player of the season has started just one of Rovers’ first six games this time round, with boss Sam Allardyce insisting no one can afford to slip below the high standards they have set themselves.

Nzonzi proved one of the bargains of the season in his debut Premier League campaign, after signing from French minnows Amiens for in the region of £400,000 in June 2009, but has yet to hit such heights this time round.

The 21-year-old is expected to be recalled to the starting line-up for tomorrow night’s Carling Cup third round tie at Aston Villa, and Allardyce has urged ‘take your chance when you get it’.

He said: “I don’t think he has been unlucky, I just don’t think he has played to the level he played last year.

"That is the reason why he hasn’t put himself in the side.

“Vince Grella, who struggled last year because of injuries, has kept himself a little bit fitter and is now getting himself in the frame a little bit more. That puts pressure on Steven.

“Steven is a young man who has gone home in the summer and, for me, has come back and thinks it is just going to happen.

“Young lads do that, he has got a kick up the backside, take it in the chin and when he gets back in show me he is back to his normal self.”

While fellow youngster Martin Olsson has also had a slow start to the campaign, due to a mixture of injury and loss of form, one starlet who has continued to meet expectations is Phil Jones.

After starring in the heart of the defence towards the end of last season, the 18-year-old has impressed in a deep midfield role this time round, but Allardyce warns he now has to maintain his new ‘elite standards’.

“With Jonesy playing in midfield now, I think he is awesome,” said Allardyce.

“He does all things well, defends well, uses the ball well, his energy levels are really, really good, so that is a bigger competition for those midfield players.

“It has been a good start for Phil Jones, he has carried from where he left off last year.

"We have to keep a close eye on him and make sure he does not slip away in terms of getting carried away with all the attention he is getting though.

“He had two outstanding games for the England under 21s.

"He has been outstanding in the middle, it is not his normal position but he is very comfortable with it. He has to continue to move forward though.

“He ran further than he ever has in his life according to the stats against Manchester City.

"He broke all his previous records in that game in terms of his physical output.

"He has set himself a new standard and now we ask the player to hit that standard as many times as possible.”