STEVE Kean believes Grant Hanley is one of football’s dying breed after tipping his ‘natural born defender’ for a bright Premier League future.

Blackburn Rovers’ no-nonsense centre back Hanley has flourished ever since scoring the winner at Old Trafford in December – with his boss admitting he has learnt his lessons quickly.

The 20-year-old will start his seventh successive game against Manchester United at Ewood Park on Monday night, having endured a difficult start to the campaign.

His late header to seal a memorable 3-2 win against the Premier League champions on New Year’s Eve has been highlighted as a turning point – with Kean hailing his form since the turn of the year.

Kean said: “Grant has been outstanding. He totally deserves his run in the side because there was one game where I left him out and he was playing well.

“Scott Dann was fit again and I made the decision and it was a tough one for him. He had been playing well but I put Scott back in again.

“Ever since then he has got a partnership with Scott and I think the both of them have been excellent.

“I think for Grant he knows now the type of intensity and level he has to be at now.

“There have been times when he has got into the team and has been a little bit loose and not on it and you can’t be at this level.

“A ball under your foot or a slight mistake or a mistimed header and it is a goal. But he has been spot on and one of our most consistent players for a number of weeks.”

Hanley could come up against his former Rovers academy team mate Phil Jones on Monday night, after his circa £16.5m summer move to Old Trafford. Kean insists the pair can’t be compared though but believes both will enjoy successful top flight careers.

Kean said: “I knew Grant had lots of qualities but a different type to Phil.

“Grant is more of an old fashioned centre half and I don’t mean that in a derogatory way.

“He prefers heading it, he loves tackling, he loves defending.

“Whereas I think Phil has shown not only can he defend but he can play in midfield, as a full back and can adapt to all sorts of positions. He is probably more of a modern day footballer.

“Grant is a bit of a throw back to the old fashioned defenders but there is nothing wrong with it.

“The thing he loves doing is defending. He loves when we do one v ones and two v twos in training. It is not all about him having the ball.

“He likes to make sure he is in the right position and I think all that is a dying art and he has certainly got it.

“Grant I am sure can go on to play for a number of years at this level.”