Jay McEveley made a huge impression when he made his Blackburn debut at 17 and was promptly called up by the England Under-21s.

His dramatic rise to the top was rudely interrupted in January when he dislocated his kneecap during an FA Cup tie while on loan for Burnley.

It was the first setback to the young defender's career but just a month before his 19th birthday, McEveley has some good news to report.

"I've had three reserve games on the spin now and things are looking up for me after doing all the hard rehabilitation work," says the amiable Liverpudlian, who can play at left-back or in the centre of defence.

"I went on loan to Burnley to get first-team experience and I can remember the incident where I got injured. When I looked down, I could see the knee cap pushing out the side of my leg and it gave me a sickly feeling.

"The physio was able to pop it back in then and there so I started to feel better. But a week later, they decided I needed an operation because it was too loose and could have been dislocated again.

"After the op, I couldn't use my leg muscles so the rehabilitation has been really hard work to build up the strength.

"Fortunately, I drive an automatic so I was able to get into the training ground because the injury was on my left leg and it's the right that does the pedals.

"Barry Ferguson and David Thompson also had serious knee injuries so we worked together every day. It was a boost to see Barry get back into the side.

"He says he feels a lot better having had a few matches under his belt and I'm starting to feel the same. I would like to think after another few games, I will be available for the first-team."

McEveley, who was brought up close to Everton's training ground, was also given a lift at the start of the season when England Under-21 manager Peter Taylor got in touch to see how his progress was going.

"Peter checked on my fitness before naming his squads in August but Blackburn said it was too early. But I think there are some qualifiers in March and I would love to be involved.

"I went with the under-20s to the World Youth Cup in Dubai and it was a brilliant experience. For me, it was like the real World Cup, playing against different countries and styles."

It is an Englishman though who McEveley remembers most from his short career so far.

"I came up against David Beckham in one of my first games for Blackburn," he recalls. "It was a bit intimidating at first and I caught him with a late tackle early on. It was a great night though, a League Cup semi-final at Old Trafford and I cleared one off the line from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer."

McEveley is best-known as a left-back but admits further in his career he thinks he will develop as a left-sided central defender. At 6ft, he is certainly tall enough.

"Graeme Souness played me at left-back and to be honest if I have a chance at Blackburn now, it is probably in that position," he says.

"I think Peter Taylor knows that I am a centre-half as well. At this stage in my career, I am happy to play wherever suits the team but I think in five or six years I will settle down as a left-sided central defender."

His Blackburn manager Mark Hughes, who left the club as a player the year before McEveley played for their Under-17s side, will be delighted to have the youngster back in the frame.

With a new house purchase in fashionable Formby just about to go through and a return to fitness well underway, McEveley can look forward to his birthday with optimism after a difficult few months.