Phil Jones has insisted he still has plenty to offer at Manchester United as he looks to prove his return to action wasn’t a “one-off”.
The defender made a surprise return to the United line-up earlier this year when he started against Wolves in January. Jones’ appearance was his first for the club in almost two years, having endured a spate of injuries.
Despite impressing in the 1-0 defeat at Old Trafford, and the problems United have had in defence this season, the 30-year-old has gone on to make just one more appearance, having come off the bench during the FA Cup defeat to Middlesbrough. The defender though isn’t taking his opportunities for granted.
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“I had 30 minutes against Middlesbrough when Rapha [Raphael Varane] came off,” Jones told United’s website. “Any time I get on the pitch now, I go out and play with freedom, just enjoy playing football. I’ve been out for so long, so you enjoy it, play for freedom, do it for yourself, for the fans, for your family.
“It’s the way you’ve got to be. You can’t live in fear on the pitch or fear of walking out on the pitch. What could it be like if I’ve done that or do that and then this is going to happen… Just go out and play football.”
Jones’ contract at United runs until the summer of 2023, with the club also holding the option of a further year. The defender’s future at Old Trafford though has been called into question.
Having spent so long out injured, Jones has found himself falling down the pecking order with the Reds, with Varane, Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof and Eric Bailly all ahead of him. The England international though is eager to prove he can still have an impact at United.
"I turned 30 the other week and still feel young and fresh," he added. "I feel I’ve a lot more to give still, as long as I feel great, I can continue for as long as I can.
“[My ambition is] Just try to play as many games as I can. Try to be involved in things, to be part of the games. I know, when you’ve been out for a while, people think yeah, he’s been out for a while but I’m ready. I know I’m capable of playing.
"Hopefully, I proved that against Wolves. I don’t want that to be a one-off. I want more. I’ll keep myself in the best shape I can so when the time comes, hopefully I’ll get some game-time towards the end of the season and I can show people why I am here.”
Jones added: “I'm my own biggest critic. I could have the best game in the world but I’m always like I could have done that, or should have done that, I should have been tighter there, I shouldn’t have allowed the ball to go over the top of my head, I shouldn’t have let it bounce.
“I'm always looking for perfection. It’s just who I am as a person in day-to-day life, forget football. It’s what I’m like off the pitch. Yeah, I played well but, ultimately, and it sounds awful, I’d rather not have played as good and we got three points.”
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