ROVERS boss Sam Allardyce has heaped praise on yet another emerging youngster after Grant Hanley's superb debut display against Aston Villa on Sunday.

The Scottish under 19 international was handed his Premier League debut on the final day of the 2009-10 season, and like Phil Jones, his former defensive partner at Academy and Reserve team level, the 18-year-old grasped the opportunity with a commanding performance.

After the game the Rovers manager was delighted at Hanley's debut display.

 

"I remember watching them beat a Manchester United youth team, and we know that Jones had done it in the Carling Cup and the against Aston Villa in the FA Cup," said Allardyce.

"And we've since seen him do it in the Premier League on a regular basis.

"What we said to ourselves in the week is it time to give Grant Hanley a go because he looks just as good, but in a different way, but just as good.

"And what an outstanding debut yet again. To keep a clean sheet away from home at Villa is no mean feat by any player that is playing in the Premier League.

"But for somebody on their debut, coming across the likes of Gabriel Agbonlahor, John Carew and Emile Heskey, it is a fantastic day for him.

"To see the team win on the end of it and get a clean sheet means that his parents will be very proud, his parents will be proud and will have travelled down from Dumfries to watch him and they'll have gone home very happy indeed."