DAVID Dunn has called for Blackburn Rovers’ starlets to ‘show us what you are made of’ as they look to follow in his FA Youth Cup footsteps.

The Rovers midfielder represented Rovers in the 1998 FA Youth Cup final, a 5-3 defeat to Everton, and will be at Turf Moor tonight for the academy class of 2012’s semi final second leg against bitter rivals Burnley.

Rovers lead 1-0 from the first leg but, with another 10,000 plus crowd expected, Dunn insists the result is secondary to taking the next step towards a professional career.

He said: “It will be a great atmosphere and it obviously would be great to reach the final. But the main thing for a youth team player is to progress and to get a career out of it.

“So to play under these circumstances, in front of a big crowd and against your local rivals, I think you find out who can play under pressure and who will crumble.

“I remember when I was in the final with Rovers and I wobbled in the first leg at Ewood. It is a big test playing in front of such a crowd.

“Youth team football is all about producing players. The important thing for both teams is not winning cups, it is how many of these players go on to have a career.

“Games like this are a learning curve for the players and the coaches because you see who the players are that can cope with the pressure.”

The rise of Rovers’ youth set up and earning academy status was one of Jack Walker’s lasting legacys as his finance helped revolutionise the Brockhall facilities.

Dunn admits the club’s youth system would be not where it is without ‘uncle Jack’ but insists it is important not to forget the contribution of everyone else along the way.

“What a great thing to have for the club,” he said. “You look at the players we have in the team now who have progressed from the academy and you can see it is working.

“Over the years you have seen myself and Damien Duff come out of the academy and sold for decent money and recently have had Phil Jones sold to Manchester United for in the region of £20m.

“This was Jack Walker’s vision but to get where we are today you can’t forget the work of all the people that have been involved over the years.

“From Alan Irvine, Rob Kelly and Bobby Downes to Gary Bowyer and Terry McPhillips and Phil Cannon who are there now. Everyone involved deserves a lot of credit.

“Blackburn Rovers is a great club for a young player to be at. The manager has shown he will give them their chance in the first team and that has to all these players’ aim.”