Young Cairney touted as future international

The 19-year-old has been a revelation since being handed his Premier League debut by Phil Brown in last Saturday's 2-2 draw at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Cairney followed up his impressive top-flight bow by bossing the midfield contest against Frank Lampard and Michael Ballack as the Tigers ground out a point against Chelsea.

Boateng, who played four times for Holland, has seen enough of his young team-mate in both competitive action and training to back him to go all the way.

The veteran said: "Tom is doing really well but what pleases me is that when I give him the ball, I can trust him with it. In the middle of the park there is nothing more valuable than that.

"Tom is a player who is going to get a lot of publicity in the next few weeks from the press and from our fans.

"I hope he stays grounded because he is a tremendous talent. If he works on his game, he will be an England international – he is that good.

"I appreciate that is a big statement but I said the same with Stewart Downing when I was at Middlesbrough and he was 17. Stewart made it because he is a down to earth guy and he worked hard on his fitness.

"Tom, with a bit of belief, can do the same."

Cairney was born in Nottingham and has played for Scotland Under-19s. However, when asked after the weekend draw with Wolves about his international ambitions, he said: "I am keeping my options open."

The midfielder, who celebrated his 19th birthday earlier this month, was spotted by Leeds United at the age of seven. Due to being a late developer, however, Cairney's career stalled and he was released by United for being too small at 16.

Hull moved quickly to snap up the midfielder and Boateng believes the East Riding club are being repaid for their faith.

The 34-year-old former Aston Villa and Coventry City midfielder is determined to act as a mentor to Cairney, just as Ronald Koeman once did for him when starting out as a youngster at Feyenoord.

Boateng said: "Tom is my boy and I like him a lot. What brought me this far is that I keep my feet on the floor. I have had highs and lows but I have never thought that I am bigger than what I am.

"I like players like Tom who are still grounded and he is a joy to play with. Ronald Koeman was my mentor. I loved him and he coached me all the time. I looked up to him and we have always stayed in contact.

"After a while, we were competing because I wanted to be better than him. I am ready for that to happen with Tom.

"But I don't mind, so long as it helps him. In the future I want to be sat at home and say to my kids 'you see that boy wearing the England shirt? I played with him.' "That would be a very proud moment for me."