When Keith Tracey entered the world in September 1988 Ireland was glowing in the wake of the country's first-ever appearance in a major football championship.

A young Tracey was oblivious to the green wave of optimism sweeping the country after the European Championships in Germany but now 19 years on the Dubliner is set to become a household name himself having put pen to paper on a new deal which will keep him at Blackburn Rovers until 2011.

The more fanciful of Rovers supporters are hailing the young Irishman as the new Damien Duff.

The former Belvedere man has been tipped to make a major impact at Ewood Park next season and manager Mark Hughes is pleased Tracey has committed his long-term future to the club.

The winger forced his way into the first-team squad last season and Hughes is a big fan of the Sherriff Street star.

Chairman John Williams said: "It was an important deal to get Keith signed up on a longer contract.

"He's someone who's shown a lot of promise during his time at the club and Mark thinks highly of him.

"Mark brought him into the periphery of the squad towards the end of last season and we've since secured his future by rewarding him with a four-year contract.

"Now we are all hoping he can make that next step up and force his way into the squad on a more regular basis."

A pacey winger Tracey combines sublime ball control with direct running and if things go his way he will capture the imagination of the Premiership in the same way former Rovers star Duff has.

Blackburn scout Gerry Cassidy spotted Tracey playing for Belvedere and he was offered a place at Rovers academy two years ago making his debut as a 16-year-old in a pre-season friendly at Grimsby.

The youngster has been outstanding for the reserves and Ireland's U19s manager Sean McCaffrey is convinced Keith has what it takes to succeed in the Premiership.

"Keith isn't too far away at Blackburn and I think he's ready for it," said McCaffrey.

"I have worked with a lot of good strikers in my time with the Irish teams. I have had Kevin Doyle, Shane Long, Anthony Stokes and Stephen Elliott, who have all done well for the Irish senior team, and Keith Tracey is up there with them.

He could be as good as Kevin Doyle. "He has great skill, he is strong and quick, he reads the game well and if he lives up to his potential he could be some player.

"I have watched him for the Blackburn reserves and he has really shone."

While he has yet to be included in an Irish senior squad the omission of injured Damien Duff from the Irish set-up for the upcoming European Championship fixtures may propel Tracey up the international ladder sooner than expected.