Former Blackburn Rovers defender David May has urged Phil Jones to be patient about his first team progress.

May, who enjoyed Premier League and European Champions League success during his nine-year Manchester United spell, started his career in the youth ranks at Ewood Park and he believes Phil Jones could enjoy similar success.

With Ryan Nelsen, Chris Samba and Gael Givet probably ahead of him in the defensive queue at the start of the campaign, May believes patience could prove vital for Jones.

"I was pretty lucky," May told the Lancashire Telegraph. "I played one game when I was 18 and then Don Mackay, Rovers manager at the time, came in and I started the season. From then on the more games you play the more confident you get and the better players you play with the better it is for you.

"You've got to be patient and you've got bide your time and when the time comes you've got to take it. That's what he's going to have to do.

"He's going to have be patient and bide his time, but if he's got the right advice and is listening to the right people and he keeps focused he's got a great chance of having a successful career.

"Phil has done well, the games I've seen him in he's done extremely well. It's nice to see young kids coming through, it's about time.

"It shows that the academy is doing the right thing and from the games I've seen him play he's done extremely well. it's good having potential, it's what you do with it as well.

"As long as he keeps working hard and listening to the right people then he's got a great chance."