Ex-Man Utd star and Ferguson favourite returns to club for possible new role
Former Manchester United defender Phil Jones has been spotted back at their Carrington training ground, despite being released by the club this summer.
Jones left United when his contract expired, having spent 12 years at the club since being signed from Blackburn in 2011 by Sir Alex Ferguson. In fact, Ferguson rated Jones so highly he once tipped the defender to become one of United's all-time greats. However, things did not work out that way for Jones, who has struggled with injury problems in recent years and last played a competitive game in May 2022.
When it was announced he would be leaving United, the club said he would be "taking some time before deciding his next move". And Jones has been back at Carrington watching some academy training sessions, with some reports claiming he was in line for a coaching role with United's under-18s.
However, the Manchester Evening News are reporting that there are currently no plans for the 31-year-old to join the coaching staff. The report states that Jones has simply been there to 'observe academy training' as he continues to weigh up his next move.
Sources are quoted as saying that ex-players 'regularly engage' with United's academy and that his presence has given youngsters a chance 'to engage with someone who has a wealth of knowledge to pass on accumulated during his successful career'.
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Jones made a total of 229 appearances for United as well as 27 for England and has won the Premier League, FA Cup and Europa League during his career. When his exit was announced back in May, he opened up about the "very difficult" last few years at United.
In an emotional letter to supporters, Jones said: "It's been very difficult, the last couple of years. There's no denying that. There is no hiding away from that. My family have been absolutely instrumental in keeping me on the straight and narrow and keeping me focused, to try to get fit and try to play more.
Jones left United this summer after spending 12 years at the club (Tom Purslow/Getty Images)"And, you know, I've missed playing football. I missed it. You grow up playing football and all you want to do is play football. It's all I've known, from such a young age, is to do what you love doing for a living. I've been fortunate enough to do that, albeit not as much as I would have liked. I've worked tirelessly hard. I literally left no stone unturned.
"I tried to get back as quick as I could, every time I was out in the last couple of years. I think the highlight for me would have to be the Wolves game [his return from injury last season], when I came back. That was just a moment that I'll never forget. It gives me goosebumps now, thinking about it. I mean I worked so, so hard to get to that stage of fitness.
"That was a huge, huge moment in my career and the fans, that day, were incredible. The love that they showed me for that game, the passion that they showed, was sensational. And I can't thank them enough for that. They've been a constant support throughout my time here."
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