BLACKBURN Rovers winger Keith Treacy is set to make his long-awaited debut for the Republic of Ireland's Under 21s tonight - but it's in the Premier League where he ultimately wants to make his mark.

After a couple of false starts due to injuries, the talented 19-year-old winger is in line to make his Under 21 bow for the Republic against Montenegro in Podgorica this evening.

However, the young Dubliner insists the man he really wants to impress is Rovers boss, Mark Hughes, after recently breaking into the first-team squad at Blackburn.

Treacy, who has been compared to fellow countryman, Damien Duff, in certain quarters, has already had a taste of first team action this season, as a late substitute in the Carling Cup victory at Portsmouth last month.

Now he wants an opportunity to showcase his blossom-ing talents on the Premier League stage, and a couple of star performances for the Republic over the next five days would help to boost his chances.

Speaking exclusively to the Lancashire Tele-graph, the teenager said: "I got my first-team debut out of the way (against Portmouth recently); now I just want to play in the Premiership and get that out of the way.

"I feel that I can offer something to the team now, but Morten Gamst Pedersen is a great player and I've no complaints about him playing in front of me. But I'll do my best to get in ahead of him.

"I guess it's about trust, and whether or not they can trust me by playing me in the Premiership. Hopefully, they can."

Treacy is the latest product of Rovers' Youth Academy to be tipped to make his mark at senior level.

Having been handed his senior debut as a 16-year-old in a pre-season friendly at Grimsby two years ago, Treacy's progress has since been monitored with great interest by Hughes and his coaching staff, culminating in his late cameo against Pompey on Halloween.

"It came as a bit of a surprise (to make the bench for the first team) but I'm just going to try to stay there," said Treacy.

"I've just got to keep playing well in the reserves and then hopefully I can I get a run-out in the Premiership."

Blessed with wonderful natural ability, Treacy certainly possesses the talent required to succeed at the highest level, but he also recognises there are certain aspects of his game which need to be better if he is to fulfil his potential - a point Hughes has already hammered home.

"He was always worried about the defensive side of my game but, obviously, Tuesday's reserve match against Liverpool (when Rovers had to dig deep to get a point following the dismissal of Sergio Peter) will help a lot because we didn't concede, and produced a good performance defensively," said the wideman.

Several members of the first team - namely Stephen Warnock and Steven Reid - are also helping to keep Treacy firmly grounded, after taking a keen interest in his development.

"When I was injured, Steven Reid was injured as well so he took me under his wing," said Treacy.

"He's always happy to show me things, and all the players are good like that, especially Stephen Warnock, who played behind me when I played in the first team.

"It's not so much advice, it's just the small things.

"Reidy talks to me a lot and helps me on my positioning, and Stephen Warnock does as well, just telling me whether to go or stay.

"He's a great role model because he came from Liverpool and dropped down the league, and really had to work hard to get in the first team."

It's not just Hughes and Rovers who have great expectations for Treacy; senior figures within the Republic of Ireland set-up are also hoping the teenager can live up to his early promise.

While comparisons with former Ewood favourite Duff are inevitable, given the two players' respective backgrounds, Treacy views that as a compliment, not a burden.

He added: "He's a great player and I'm happy that I'm even compared with him. It's a lot of pressure but I can take it."

As well as tonight's match in Montenegro, the Republic's Under 21s also face Bulgaria in Athlone on Tuesday.