Ince - Dad's my mentor

Blackpool youngster planning to follow father Paul's footsteps

Blackpool winger Thomas Ince admits father Paul is his biggest mentor - and harshest critic - as he looks to make his England Under-21 debut on Thursday night.

Ince, 20, hopes to feature for Stuart Pearce's men in their crunch European Championship qualifier in Azerbaijan.

Group Eight leaders England need victory to edge closer to qualification ahead of Monday's potential decider against Norway.

And Ince has already been given plenty of advice from his dad, who won 53 England caps during an illustrious career, about international football.

"Of course, I couldn't have had a better mentor than my dad," he told FATV.

Guidance

"I have my critics - he'll be the main one. I've had double guidance in everything I've done. He can help me off the pitch.

"I've got [Blackpool manager] Ian Holloway on the pitch and I've also got Stuart Pearce, the gaffer here, who's currently with me now.

"So I've got help from all angles and that can only benefit me in the long run."

Ince, previously capped at Under-17 and Under-19 level, said he was "elated" at his latest international call-up from Pearce.

"I've been through a couple of the youth set-ups with England, but the Under-21s is something special," said the ex-Liverpool youngster.

"It's one step away from the first team, so to get that call was fantastic."