Cape Town - Phil Jones says he does not care what the critics or some Manchester United fans may think after he penned a new deal with the Red Devils.

Jones has signed a new deal to keep him at Old Trafford until 2023, with the option of a further year on top, and the news has been questioned by pundits and fans alike.

Some United fans expressed disappointment about the deal, but that is of no concern to Jones, who seems pretty satisfied with life and is ignoring the haters.

"Listen, I don't lose sleep over what people say about me," the England international said. "It's football.

"I'm going to get criticism in the future, I'm going to get criticism in the past.

"Honestly, I generally don't care. I have a wonderful family, wonderful friends.

"I play football for Man United and I've been given an extra contract and I'm grateful for that and thankful for that. It's great."

Meanwhile, Jones believes everyone is taking United seriously again having been 'a bit of a laughing stock' at the start of the season.

Asked if it was a big psychological boost to be in fourth after the win over Fulham at the weekend, Jones added: "Yeah, huge.

"Everyone's got to take us seriously now, you know? OK, we might have been a bit of a laughing stock maybe at the start of the season but certainly not now.

"We've proven that in the last 10 or 12 games. We're improving, still getting better."