MANCHESTER UNITED boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is ‘so happy’ for injury-hit Phil Jones, who is aiming to play his first game in 20 months.
Jones’ last professional game for Man Utd came back in January 2020 against Tranmere Rovers in the FA Cup.
But a serious knee injury saw him ruled out of action 15 months, missing 78 games in total.
And now Jones is aiming to play his first professional game for United since January 2020 against West Ham in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night.
Boss Solskjaer expressed his delight on the 29-year-old’s recovery and hailed his ‘old school’ approach to being a professional footballer.
He told the club’s official website: “I’m so happy for Phil. He has completed two 90 minutes for the Under-23s and played some minutes behind closed doors and he’s got no reaction on his knee.
“He’s been working really hard.
“I’ve been part of that myself and had the best part of three years or at least more than two out of three years and I know what challenges he’s been through, mentally.
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“Thinking will I ever play football again or even be able to walk again and be able to play with the kids in the garden.
“He’s been so diligent and so professional; no frills, no social media and I’m old school. I like players like that.
“He just focuses on one thing and gets his head around the challenges and he’s back. He will also be in the squad.
“It’s a good day for him and for us and it’s something that he has earned.”
Jones admitted that the injury took its mental toll and negatively impacted his family too.
In an interview with The Times, Jones said: “It was the lowest I’ve ever been as a human being.
“I used to come back (from United’s training ground) and be in bits.
“My head was an absolute mess. I’d be in tears. I’d say to Kaya, ‘I don’t know what to do.’ I remember us both crying.
It was the lowest I’ve ever been as a human being.
Phil Jones
“There were many times I felt an awful dad. You’re trying to give your kids your energy but you can’t.
“Listen, you’ve got daughters, if your daughter tells you you’re dressing up as a princess, you’re dressing up as a princess, but I just wasn’t there, wasn’t present in the moment. I’d be on my phone or miles away.
“I’m not scared of saying any of this. People and footballers, they’ll put on a front that everything’s all right, but you don’t know what’s going on behind closed doors.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
