RISING star Phil Jones cannot believe the season he has just enjoyed.

At the start of the 2009-10 campaign the then 17-year-old was preparing to make the move up from Academy football into the Reserve squad after just a year with the under 18s.

By the end of the season he had a dozen first team appearances and an England under 19 cap to his name.

"At the start of the season I was in the Reserves and my aims for the season was to try and cement a regular first team place with them," said Jones.

"Obviously things progressed from there but if you'd have said I'd have got one game maybe before the end of the season in the Premier League I'd have bitten your hand off for that.

"So to get as many games as I have done and as well I've progressed I'm delighted."

Rovers fan Jones made his senior bow aged 17 when Rovers defeated Nottingham Forest in the Carling Cup 3rd round, a day he'll never forget.

"That was a tough game going to Forest, I was a bit nervous before the game which is only natural, but I was delighted to have come out having played well and won the game.

"It is an amazing feeling to be playing for the club you've supported as a kid.

"I'm one of the luckiest teenagers around at the moment, Blackburn Rovers is a great club and I'm delighted to be here."

As Jones' stock rose towards the end of the season the inevitable speculation surrounding the young defender started to appear, but he brushed it aside and was delighted to pen a new five-year deal, and Jones has admitted he would like to stay beyond that.

"Obviously it is pleasing to hear clubs are looking at you," added the defender.

"But at the end of the day I'm a Blackburn Rovers player, I've signed a five-year contract, I'm happy at the club and there is no reason why I can't do well in these five years if things progress.

"You can never say never as you don't know what will happen, but I'd like to think that I'll be here for the full five years and even further after that."