Ferdinand hopes Phil Jones axe reports are not true
Rio Ferdinand hopes reports Phil Jones has been axed from Man United dressing room are not true… as he admits being demoted to reserves would be a ‘hard pill to swallow’ for exiled centre-back
- Reports last week claimed Erik ten Hag had axed Phil Jones from dressing room
- Jones was left out of Manchester United’s Europa League squad for this season
- The 30-year-old defender has started just twice in the last two years for the club
- Rio Ferdinand is hopeful his former team-mate’s playing days are not over yet
Rio Ferdinand insists he is hopeful Phil Jones has not been axed from the Manchester United dressing room and believes he still has time to resurrect his career.
Reports last week claimed United boss Erik ten Hag has kicked Jones, fellow defenders Brandon Williams and Axel Tuanzebe, as well as Tegen Mendi and Shola Shoretire out of his dressing room to make room for the club’s summer signings.
The 30-year-old – who was left out of United’s squad for the Europa League this season – has started just twice in the last two years for the club and has been unavailable for selection since pre-season due to injury.
Rio Ferdinand is hopeful Phil Jones has not been axed from the Man United dressing room
Reports claim United boss Erik ten Hag has kicked Jones and four others out of dressing room
Jones is in the final year of his United contract and is well down the pecking order but Ferdinand – who played with the centre-back between 2011 and 2014 – is hopeful his former team-mate’s playing days are not behind him.
Ferdinand, who played alongside Jones between August 2011 and May 2014, hopes Jones can play regularly again in the near future – whether that’s at Old Trafford or elsewhere.
‘Listen, I’ve got to be honest, I hope it’s not true,’ Ferdinand said on his Vibe with Five YouTube channel.
‘If it is true, that’s Erik ten Hag laying it out and saying: ”You’re not a part of my plans, moving forward you’re surplus to requirements”.
Ferdinand (second from R) played Jones (R) for the Red Devils between 2011 and 2014
‘But that’s the game man. If you’re not involved and you’re not part of the first-team going forward, why are you going to be taking up someone else’s space?
‘There might be a young player who Ten Hag wants to come in and gain some experience in the dressing room.
‘We have to wait and see but Phil Jones, if he’s still there but been demoted to the reserves, that’s a hard pill to swallow. He’s suffered some really horrific injuries so I just hope he stays fit and at some point he’ll be able to go out and play somewhere.’
Speaking in September last year, Phil Jones spoke about his injury ‘hell’ in a frank interview.
He said: ‘I’ve been through hell and back over the last couple of years,’ he told United’s website. ‘I struggled with my knee a little bit and (there) came a point after lockdown where I thought enough was enough.
He managed his first appearance in two years in January as the Red Devils lost 1-0 to Wolves
‘I kept myself in great shape over lockdown and came back. But I remember just training out here [at Carrington] and going into the doc and saying ”enough’s enough”.
‘Unfortunately, there was going to be time off the pitch, which I knew was going to be difficult for me, but it was something that I had to do.
‘Thankfully, I see the light at the end of the tunnel now and I’ve been back training, played a few behind-closed-doors games and I’m feeling really good at the minute.’
‘I think as a footballer, as a person, as a human being, that’s the lowest I probably ever felt in my life. You try and get a balance between football and family life but it was so difficult going home and trying to look after the kids. You’re there, but you’re not there, you’re not present. It’s nice to get that balance back.’
The centre-back still boasts an impressive trophy haul, having won the Premier League
Jones – who signed a new four-year contract with the Red Devils in 2019 – has only played 13 times for Manchester United in the last four campaigns at the club, but has made 229 in all competitions to date since joining in 2011.
He managed his first appearance in two years in January as the Red Devils lost 1-0 to Wolves.
The centre-back still boasts an impressive trophy haul, having won the Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup and Europa League during his 11-year spell at Old Trafford.
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