Jenas, who captains England's Under-19 side, is currently in talks with Newcastle United after the Magpies had a bid accepted for the Nottingham Forest's prized asset accepted.

And Platt, who gave a young Jenas his first team debut while manager of Nottingham Forest, is a keen admirer of silkily skilled midfield maestro.

"If he ends up going to Newcastle, they will have a very good player on their hands," he told TheFA.com. "Even they may be surprised at how good a player he is.

"He's athletic, quick, is a good reader of the game, can score a goal and can pass long and short. There aren't too many weaknesses in his game."

And the challenge of Premier League football is one Platt believes Jenas will relish.

"Jermaine has the right mental approach to the game," he explained. "He takes things in his stride and I would expect him to do the same at Newcastle if that is where he ends up."

And England's Under-19 coach Martin Hunter echoed Platt's sentiments.

"The Premier league clubs have been aware of Jermaine's talent for some time now," Hunter said of his captain.

"He is a mature lad on the pitch who has a very mature football brain for a young man of his age. He also carries himself with distinction off the pitch.

"One of the reasons I made him captain of the Under-19s is that he has the respect of his team-mates and knows how to get the best out of them."

Hunter also has little doubt that, should the move be completed, the Premier League should hold no fears for the man known as 'JJ'.

"Up until this point in his career he has handled every step upwards extremely well so there is no reason to think that playing in the Premier League should be any different," Hunter confirmed.

Indeed there are more than a few reasons for Hunter to be optimistic as he builds towards a mouth-watering meeting with Germany at Portman Road on February 14. It is not just Jenas who looks to be hitting peak club form as the big international game approaches.

"I've been compiling information reports about the way in which Germany play and there's no doubt that we're in for a tough game," he admitted. "But, at the moment, I'm more concerned about what my own players are doing and there are some encouraging signs.

"I was in the crowd for Crewe's F.A. Cup game with Rotherham in which Dean Ashton scored twice and I was also pleased to see Darren Carter recently make his first team debut at Birmingham."

There are some bright talents shining in the England youth ranks at the moment and, if players like Jermine Jenas and Dean Ashton are able to fulfil the huge potential that they are currently showing, The F.A.'s dream of winning a major international tournament by 2006 has every chance of being brought to fruition.