DEREHAM teenager Jackson Ramm admits he is 'living the dream' with Blackburn Rovers – and is hoping to earn a new contract with the Premier League club.

The 17-year-old right-back, a former pupil at Neatherd High School, has featured prominently in Rovers' reserves since signing for the Lancashire club on a two-year deal in January 2009. With his current contract up for renewal, he is working hard to secure a new deal: 'I'm just trying to make as much of an impression as I can,' he said. 'We play in the Youth Cup against Reading at Ewood Park on Thursday (tonight) so I want to do well in that and to carry on playing for the reserves.

'You have got to be ready if your chance comes. You have to be fit and strong because you never know what can happen – you could be called up for a Premier League game and you have to deal with that – if you don't it might be the end of your career.'

Ramm joined Rovers from Cambridge United, having been released by Norwich City at the age of 14.

He said: 'After I was released by Norwich I thought it wasn't going to work out for me in football, but then I got the offer from Cambridge United and I thought I'd go and play at a lower level.'

But other clubs had been alerted to Ramm's availability – and before long he was heading for a trial with Manchester United: 'I was offered trials with Manchester United, West Brom and Reading and I played for United in the Nike Cup tournament,' he said. 'I was offered a contract by Blackburn and West Brom and Man United asked me to go back for another trial, but I decided that I had two good offers on the table and I didn't want to hang on. There was no point in waiting around so I took the decision to come here.

'It's going well and I'm enjoying it – I'm living the dream really because it's what I've always wanted to do.'

Ramm started with the Rovers academy but was quickly moved into the reserve team squad.

'Some days I'm needed to join in with first team training and when that happens you just have to take in the experience and get what you can out of it,' he said.

'It's brilliant when that happens, you're playing with Premier League players and working with the manager, Sam Allardyce and the assistant manager Neil McDonald.

'I just want to make an impression and hopefully get a breakthrough.'

To complete his fairytale year, last month Ramm played the full 90 minutes for England Under-18s in their 3-0 friendly win against Poland at Wycombe Wanderers: 'It was incredible,' he said. 'When I was told the news that I'd been selected it was just the best feeling I've ever had.

'To put on the shirt and play a decent game for 90 minutes was amazing. A couple of people from Blackburn watched me and gave me some good feedback and we had a quick chat with the England staff afterwards and they seemed happy, so hopefully I will get to play again. There is the Under-19 European Championships next year and I would love to be involved in that.'