Manchester United defender Phil Jones admits that he considered retiring due to his injury concerns. The centre-back missed 78 games across all competitions for United and had spent a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
He was unfit for straight 454 days and didn’t have any role to play last year. Phil Jones has revealed that he was so troubled with the fitness-related issues that he wanted to give up on his playing time.
While talking to the club’s official podcast, he said:
“I’m feeling good at the minute. Obviously, I’ve been through hell and back over the last couple of years. I struggled with my knee a little bit and [there] came a point after lockdown where I thought enough was enough.”
“I kept myself in great shape over lockdown and came back. But I remember just training out here and going in to 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. It’s so good to be back out training with the lads and enjoying being a footballer again because, for the last 15 months, it’s been all ‘daddy daycare’ and not much football.”
Phil Jones was signed in 2014 by Manchester United and Sir Alex Ferguson admired the defender during his days. But the centre-back failed to perform consistently. He has just 165 league appearances in over 10 years.
He has since struggled a lot and was heavily criticized by fans and pundits who questioned his fitness and form.
He has now rejuvenated himself and seeing him back in training makes us feel happy. He has been handed a two-year contract by the club which will run till 2023 and he will hope to make full use of it.
The club has faith in Phil Jones’s abilities.
