The defender hasn't played a single minute this season through injury
Three Lions' defender Phil Jones is about to be brought back into the fold as United take on the Turkish side in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday night, after a combination of injuries, misfortune and stiff competition for places in the United defence has made Jones not to have played a single minute of football this season. In fact, he hasn't played in the first team since January 2.
Speaking ahead of tonight's match with Fenerbahce in Istanbul, Jose Mourinho echoed the thoughts of many Manchester United fans when he said: 'I can't remember when Phil Jones had a good run of matches for United.'
Last season was a disaster as Jones suffered one injury setback after another, playing full 90 minutes in just five matches. He was forced to watch helplessly from the sidelines as United crashed out of the Champions League and then the Europa League, before staggering to a fifth-place finish in the league.
It was only in April and May that Jones regained fitness to play a few times for United's under-21 team, and when he played in Wayne Rooney's testimonial back in August, it looked as though Jones was ready to play a central part once more. But the cursed defender then suffered a knee ligament injury in training back in September, a further delay coming when he had a brace fitted to stabilise the joint.
Finally, after what seems an age on the sidelines, Jones is ready to return to the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium.
Injuries to Antonio Valencia, Eric Bailly and Chris Smalling have left United lightweight at the back as they look to build on back-to-back wins over Zorya Luhansk and Fenerbahce to reach the knockout stage of the UEFA Europa League.
'He has worked hard to recover, he has been training with the team for more than a week,' said Mourinho. 'We do not have enough time to give him, for him to get into good condition. Maybe we have to play him.'
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