Jones Committed to Blackburn

Blackburn Rovers defender Phil Jones has pledged his long-term future to the club by signing a new five-year contract at Ewood Park.

The 18-year-old is now under contract until the summer of 2015, having broken into the Rovers first-team set-up this season.

The deal comes as a major boost to Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce, who is aware that some of the Premier League's big guns are already showing an interest in centre-half Jones.

Allardyce told the Lancashire Evening Telegraph: "When you look at Chris Smalling's situation (at Fulham), he plays four league games and he is sold for £10million.

"That's how quickly things happen when a new player emerges on the scene like him and Phil Jones. They create a stir in the world of football.

"When they play consistently well then it's bound to attract some of the big boys."