Lee Mears has backed club-mate Nathan Catt to break into both the Bath and England sides before too long.

The 21-year-old prop made his England Saxons bow in Friday's 66-0 win over Portugal – even though he is yet to start a senior game at club level.

The loosehead is also waiting for his Guinness Premiership debut but has built a reputation as one of the best young props in the land.

And England hooker Mears, who will start Saturday's Six Nations Championship opener against Italy at Twickenham, sees no reason why Bath Academy product Catt cannot become a regular for club and country in the near future.

"I think Catty's going to be a very good player," said Mears. "He knows that he's not far away, but at the same time he is sat behind David Flatman and David Barnes at Bath. I'm not sure how Barnesy hasn't won a cap, but both he and Flats are quality, quality looseheads.

"Nathan knows, though, that once he finally breaks into that team, he is not far away from England either. Once he is in, he is going to be climbing very fast, but at the moment he has just got to wait. You will definitely see a lot more of Nathan Catt in the next few years."

Mears is perhaps the ideal front-row role model for Catt when it comes to biding your time – although he admits the youngster will understandably want to rise through the ranks quicker than he did.

Mears did not become a regular in the starting line-up at Bath until he was 25 and had to wait until 26 for his England debut.

"Hopefully he can see what's happened to me and learn from it, although I wouldn't say my path was the ideal one to follow!" said Mears. "It's all about being patient, but when you get that chance you've got to be ready and prepared – and I think he will be."

And Mears says Catt is not the only England star in the making at the club. Full-back Nick Abendanon was the man of the match in the Saxons' win on Friday, while winger Matt Banahan has just spent a week training with the full England squad in Portugal.

"We've got boys at Bath waiting in the wings for England, there's no doubt about that," said Mears. "There's such a fine line between international and club rugby and there are boys at Bath who could definitely be involved – and it won't be long before they are."