Phil Jones Can Become One of Manchester United's Most Critical Participants - Bleacher Statement

The new concern over Phil Jones' conditioning before next week's essential Champions League wrap with Real Madrid illustrates a change in the former Blackburn Rovers' player's value to Sir Alex Ferguson. In Madrid, he played the double role of putting an extra layer of security to the United protection and supporting an already extended midfield. If he does miss Tuesday's sport, Ferguson may need to reconsider his techniques, as it is unlikely he has someone else at his disposal who could do exactly the same work. Jones was much praised when he attained Old Trafford from Ewood Park in the summer of 2011, with some tipping him to be a potential England captain and others likening him to popular United star of the '50s, Duncan Edwards. Certainly the A16 million price tag indicated that Manchester United had big ideas for the 19-year-old. The Preston created player is becoming an player at centre-back, right-back and in one's heart of midfield. But Jones' first year at Old Trafford was something of a mixed bag. Ferguson closed Jones after a number of impressive display at the heart of the Blackburn defence and in his first full start for his new team, he combined Jonny Evans in the centre of defence in a 3-0 make an impression on Spurs. But, while the period advanced, Jones found himself pushed out to the right-back position, if not implemented as a box-to-box midfielder. Johnson never truly nailed down one position and was generally used to put holes within an damage exhausted United side. While overall Jones' first season at Old Trafford was successful, he was yet to ascertain an obvious design or position within the United group. Parallels could possibly be driven with either Phil Neville or John O'Shea. Both Neville and O'Shea were much heralded in their early United profession, and both went on to win a bunch of medals and many international lids, but their continuous redeployment on the subject intended it is possible neither person realized their full potential. The fear is that Jones falls in to the same trapa'shuttled from position to position every week, failing woefully to identify himself as a first-team standard. Perhaps an improved case for Jones to follow may be that of former United captain Roy Keane. In Keane's early United times he, also, played in the centre of support and at right-back before ultimately establishing himself as you of the best central midfielders in the world. While Jones might not be as ferocious as Keane, he's no less in potential and new shows in centre of the park against Spurs and Real Madrid, helping United to deal with Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo, showcased his features because situation. The now 22-year-old can be an excessively gifted person, but his usefulness could possibly be his problem.