Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express.
Phil Jones stakes England claim
PHIL JONES has put his name in the frame for England’s friendlies with the Republic of Ireland and Brazil after staking a claim as the answer to the team’s centre-back problems.
England coach Roy Hodgson was at Old Trafford on Monday and saw Jones impress at the heart of Manchester United’s defence despite their 2-1 defeat by neighbours Manchester City.
The boy could be anything. At 21, he is a man. He is absolutely fantastic.
He made important challenges on Carlos Tevez and David Silva, reading the game intelligently, and emerged with his reputation enhanced.
Jones started at right-back in Hodgson’s first match in charge against Norway in May last year, but has not played since.
United boss Sir Alex Ferguson said: “The boy could be anything. At 21, he is a man. He is absolutely fantastic.”