Is Jones Mourinho’s man?

​​​​​​​Phil Jones has impressed for Manchester United since he was rushed back from injury last month. Ahead of their Nissan Super Sunday clash with Everton, Nick Wright examines why the defender could become a key man for Jose Mourinho…

Manchester United cursed their luck when Chris Smalling joined centre-back partner Eric Bailly on the sidelines earlier this season. An already shaky defence was dangerously depleted for their Premier League trip to Swansea at the start of November, and Jose Mourinho had little choice but to turn to a forgotten figure.

Phil Jones hadn’t made so much as a substitute appearance since January. Ten months of injury hell had thrown his future into doubt, but with United in dire need of a victory at the Liberty Stadium, here he was in Mourinho’s starting line-up.

It was a risky move, but Jones was a commanding presence in the heart of United’s defence as they claimed a comfortable 3-1 win. “He was a brave guy to say: ‘I am ready for the team’ when he wasn’t,” said Mourinho afterwards. “After two or three months without kicking a ball, he was only ready in the mind. But that’s where it matters and he had a great performance.”

Mourinho’s comments were partly aimed at Smalling and Luke Shaw for ruling themselves out of the game, but the praise for Jones was genuine. The 24-year-old has played every minute since then. It’s the first time in almost two years that he has started five consecutive games, and his assured displays have helped stabilise United’s backline.

It’s quite the turnaround. Sir Alex Ferguson described Jones as a “phenomenal” talent with the …

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