Phil Jones has been told he still has the chance to force his way into the reckoning at Manchester United amid the club’s issues at the back this season.
The defender was a surprise inclusion for Ralf Rangnick’s side against Wolves after captain Harry Maguire was ruled out through injury.
Jones’ inclusion was the only change made by United’s interim manager following the 3-1 win over Burnley as they get 2022 underway, with the 29-year-old making his first appearance since the win over Tranmere Rovers in the FA Cup in January 2020.
The former Blackburn defender’s inclusion will no doubt have come as a shock to many United supporters, with many suspecting Jones’ time at the club would be coming to an end soon with his contract expiring in 2023.
Sky Sports pundits Jamie Redknapp and Paul Ince though feel Jones still has a chance to force his way into Rangnick and any future United manager’s plans, with the club’s other defenders having not covered themselves in glory this season.
Speaking ahead of the clash with Wolves, Redknapp said: “He’ll (Jones) be nervous obviously because he will know everyone reads the papers, social media and I think he spoke recently about not looking at them anymore and I think that’s probably a good thing for him.
“What I will say from his point of view is that there’s not a lot to beat, they’ve conceded so many goals Manchester United from all sorts, set pieces, they’ve not been good in terms of creating relationships, nobody’s really forming partnerships where the manager can go ‘yes that’s my best two right now’.
“Maguire and Varane have showed it in certain games, but other games they haven’t. But for Phil Jones what an opportunity.
“He’s still only 29, I’m not saying he’s going to be the Man United centre-back for the next two years but go show what you’re about today, go and show that you are the player people were talking about when you first arrived from Blackburn.”
Former United midfielder Ince added: “I saw him (Jones) when I was the manager of Blackburn. His ability – he was strong, he was quick, he had two good feet.
“It’s been a really bad time for him, when you have a dream move to Manchester United, and you have bad injuries that have stopped you playing, but I agree with Jamie, this is a huge chance for him to say he’s going to make a stake here.
“Maguire hasn’t been great, Lindelof, Bailly, there’s so much inconsistency with the pair at the back two.
“Varane has been in and out with injuries so this is a chance for him to stake a claim, and to be fair it’s going to be a tough one against Jimenez, Podence, people like that, they’re going to challenge and test him but it’s great to see him back.”
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