As reported by the Mirror, Phil Jones has been removed by Erik ten Hag from the 2022/23 list submitted for registration to the league, which appears to be the last straw for his Manchester United career.
As things stand, the final Manchester United Premier League roster does not include the English centre-back’s name. The 30-year-old will not play again unless the Red Devils register him in January because his contract is up at the end of the current campaign.
Jones’ absence from the United team is the latest setback for his United career after he was also omitted from the 25-man roster for the Europa League. This new step follows allegations that the defender had been expelled from United’s overcrowded locker room to make a place for newcomers.
Raphael Varane, Lisandro Martinez, Victor Lindelof, Harry Maguire, and Axel Tuanzebe are the five central defenders picked by Ten Hag. This means that the 30-year-old has nowhere to play and it would be likely that he will search for a move this January.
Jones was a youthful, promising prospect when he joined the 20-time English champions in 2011 from Blackburn Rovers in a £16.5 million move. However, his poor form has shifted his pushed him to the sidelines in recent years and has hardly played for his team.
The majority of this can be attributed to Jones’ struggles with injuries, but managers have also generally ignored Jones in favour of other players.
Although it would appear like the defender’s time at Old Trafford is over, he still has a long career ahead of him. He may yet have a lot to give to another club at 30 years old and be able to resume his career elsewhere.
