Phil Jones was a ‘future England captain’ and was tipped to be Manchester United’s ‘best ever player’ by Sir Alex Ferguson, he’s now out for cup redemption after 20 months of injury hell

Sir Alex Ferguson is one of the most respected names in football. He was way off the mark in his assessment of Phil Jones, though.

“Jones, arguably the way he is looking, could be our best ever player,” Ferguson said after winning his and Manchester United’s last Premier League title in May 2013.

4

“I think Jones may be one of the best players we have ever had, no matter where we play him.

“At 21 years of age, he is going to be a phenomenal player. I think he can play anywhere on the pitch.

“He has such a massive influence, with his instinct and reading of the game. He has a drive about him.”

Eight years on from those huge claims made by the legendary boss, Jones is in line to make his first senior appearance for United in 20 months in the Carabao Cup against West Ham.

4

But Fergie is hardly the only one who believed the former Blackburn centre-back would achieve great things.

“I have not been surprised at how Phil Jones has settled into life at Manchester United one bit,” said ex-Blackburn boss Steve Kean said in December 2011.

“When I first saw Phil down at the academy I thought ‘this boy is a player’.

“I always hoped he would captain our club. Now he is at Manchester United, I am sure he will captain them and England.”

Getty

4

He made a blistering start to his Red Devils career, breaking into the England team shortly after.

Jones won the Premier League in his second season as a Man United player and also has FA Cup and Europa League winners’ medals to his name.

Yet in his decade at the club he’s largely been a figure of huge ridicule with Man United fans often blaming him for bad results in recent times.

His sometimes unconventional ways of defending (such as tackling Olivier Giroud with his head) and his rather comical facial in-game facial expressions have led to several internet memes being made at his expense.

Jones himself seems to know some fans can’t take him seriously. He turned down the chance to have a testimonial match at Man United due to having doubts about anyone attending.

However, there’s still fire in Jones’ belly despite his fall from grace. He refused to surrender his No.4 jersey for new signing Raphael Varane this summer.

He also hit back at ‘really poor’ criticism from Rio Ferdinand, and opened up on his two years of going ‘through hell’ at United.

Jones hasn’t featured for United since an FA Cup tie against Tranmere in January 2020, missing the entirety of last season through injury.

Getty

4

Jones’ former teammate Ferdinand hadn’t been too flattering about the defender in recent weeks, claiming he was wasting space in the squad after signing a four-year contract extension in 2019.

Ferdinand later apologised after United boss Solskjaer leaped to Jones’ defence, and the defender has since opened up on the hurtful comments.

“Listen, the respect I’ve got is enormous,” Jones explained: “I’ve shared a dressing room with Rio – great professional. Loved playing with him. Great lad, good humour. Learned so much off him.

“But what he said was poor. Really poor. I’m not into disputes, not into arguments, and if he didn’t know, he didn’t know.”