By Joe Murphy
On Thursday the 17th of February 2022, a tall, strong, determined, body-on-the-line, heavily underrated, injury plagued centreback logged onto Microsoft Teams. He then met Phil Jones.
Yes, this writer met his childhood (and adulthood) hero. I had the incredible opportunity to speak to Manchester United’s longest current serving outfield player and resident number 4. Thanks to a competition run by the club in partnership with Maui Jim Sunglasses, a small group of fans from across the world tuned in to ask questions to the first team player.
After outlining the fact he was somebody I personally admired, to the extent I even model my own game on his style of play, I was able to ask the England International a few questions in the short time I had with him. He had in fact just finished training for the day, minutes prior.
Firstly, when questioned about his dream five-a-side team from players he has played with, he immediately went with David De Gea in net. This seemed to be the obvious choice, having been the mainstay behind Jones in the various United sides over the last decade.
In defence, he couldn’t choose between Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic, rather modestly leaving himself on the bench on this occasion. Ahead of this backline, he went for an all English midfield and attack, with Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick sitting behind Wayne Rooney. Perhaps, it is rather telling, that Jones didn’t select a current player in his side. Perhaps a realistic indicator of how far we have fallen since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013.
Speaking of Sir Alex, Jones then disclosed that the conversation to bring him to the club over ten years ago was a rather short one. He revealed that the manager asked him one question; “Are you a winner?”
Jones, playing for Blackburn at the time simply said yes. And the rest, as they say, is history. He travelled to America to join up with the first team for the first time and couldn’t believe the thousands of people he saw lining the streets outside the squad hotel, just to catch a glimpse of the players.
But yes, Jones has that winning mentality. And he has indeed won. He admitted himself that he hopes to have won more during his career, but still has the hunger to win more during the remaining years he has left. He is still, after all, in his twenties. With a Premier League Title, FA Cup winners medal and Europa League trophy, there are plenty of players with worse CV’s out there.
Having glanced back to the past, we then discussed the future and how the centre back hopes to work his way back into the starting XI. Having been praised for his return during the Wolves game at Old Trafford earlier this year, he highlighted this as an amazing moment in his career. He disclosed how he loved every second of being back out on the pitch. After struggling with injury for over two years, he said it was amazing to get more minutes in the shirt. This also includes his cameo in the recent defeat to Middlesborough in the FA Cup 4th Round home tie, a couple of weeks ago.
I mentioned to the defender that it was obvious how much it meant to him to be back playing. He then made reference to his family. He said it was a special moment for his two young daughters to see him out playing, after not really experiencing it properly due to these horrible and consistent injury nightmares. He says he hopes to continue to build up fitness under the new manager and get more minutes in the tank. Rest assured, he will be ready to take these opportunities, when they come.
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