Jones won´t change aggressive style

Manchester United defender Phil Jones insists that he will not alter his combative style of play to reduce the risk of injury in the future.

The England international missed the end of last season and the beginning of this term after undergoing surgery on a knee problem, but he believes getting injured is just part and parcel of the game and there is no need to tone down an aggressive approach.

“No, that’s just my game. I am not going to pull out of a tackle for nothing. If that means getting injured, so be it,” Jones said.

“I don’t know why I have had so many injuries. If I knew that, I probably wouldn’t have gone through what I have gone through.

“It’s football and it happens. You move on. I have spent a lot of time in the gym and done a lot of strengthening and conditioning work. Hopefully that will stand me in good stead.”

After moving to Old Trafford from Blackburn last summer Jones struggled to assert himself with a consistent run in the team due to injuries and rotation, which left him feeling frustrated at having to watch from the sidelines.

“It has been very difficult. I was in and out of the team in the second half of last season. I couldn’t get a run of games together, which was down to the fact I was getting little niggles here and there,” he said.

“I couldn’t get match fit. I picked up some pretty horrid injuries and I’ve had a wretched five or six months. I’ve been in the gym every day, and that is not easy. I had to concentrate on getting myself fit and worked hard to get to where I am now.

“I was itching to get back. I am sick and tired of watching the lads on television while I’ve been injured or when they have travelled and I have had to stay at home because I have been injured. But I am delighted to be back now. It will be fine once I get a few more training sessions and play a few more matches to get back into the swing of things.

“Hopefully I can push on now, get back in the team on a regular basis and prove why I should be in it.”