Blackburn boss Steve Kean is not surprised by Phil Jones’ success since his summer move to Manchester United, and believes that the defender will one day become England captain.
The 19-year-old has thrived at the Red Devils since his move from Ewood Park, and Kean is certain he will become a key player at Old Trafford for years to come.
“I have not been surprised at how Phil Jones has settled into life at Manchester United one bit,” Kean told reporters.
“When I first saw Phil down at the academy I thought ‘this boy is a player’. I always hoped he would captain our club. Now he is at Manchester United, I am sure he will captain them and he will captain England.”
Jones was a product of the Rovers academy system and Kean feels clubs should not fear losing their young players to bigger sides, insisting it will benefit both parties in the long run.
Kean added: “We can’t stop developing them. They have to play and be a part of what we are doing. Then we have to fight tooth and nail to keep them and convince them by staying, they are going to play rather than just be part of a squad.
“I appreciate it is difficult. In the case of Phil, he was being offered Champions League football and we were getting a sizeable fee. And I always felt he would go straight into their team anyway such is his quality.
“He has proven that. The first indication was that he received a low squad number. That suggested he was going to play a lot of games. He will go on to become a very good player, of that I have absolutely no doubt at all.”
Kean is confident Rovers’ owners Venky’s will supply him with the funds to help move the club out of the relegation zone, and has ruled selling any of his current squad in the transfer window.
“I am very optimistic we will get funds. Hopefully they can come back in the next few days and say that we can be active at a good level.
“Obviously there is money that has come into the club, none more so than Phil Jones going to Manchester United. We want to keep the squad together, build on it and make sure we can add faces and not take them away.”
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