MANCHESTER UNITED defender Phil Jones has admitted his injury hell led to him being ‘an absolute mess’.
The 29-year-old has not featured for the Red Devils since an FA Cup clash against Tranmere in January 2020 but is nearing a first team return after a long-term knee injury.
The defender has been suffering with a meniscus issue and has not featured for United’s first team in nearly two years.
But Jones was included in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s 25-man squad for the 2021-22 Premier League season and featured on Saturday for Manchester United’s U23s.
And the 27-cap England man has revealed in an emotional interview that he has been the subject of abuse from fans, and used to return home from Carrington in tears.
Jones told the Times he was confronted by a fan saying: “Hey, Phil . . . You’re s***. You’re s***!”
“You know when a little kid will ask you 20 times before you give them the answer? It was one of them. ‘What is that? Daddy, Daddy, what is that?’”
Jones went on to say: “It was the lowest I’ve ever been as a human being.
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“I used to come back [from United’s training ground] and be in bits.
“My head was an absolute mess. I’d be in tears. I’d say to Kaya [his wife], ‘I don’t know what to do,’ I remember us both crying.
“There were many times I felt an awful dad. You’re trying to give your kids your energy but you can’t.”
But Jones will be desperate to put his injury woes behind him after turning out for the Red Devils’ U23 side yesterday.
He has also featured in behind-closed-doors friendlies for United and is edging ever-closer to a return to first team action.
And with Ole Gunnar Solskajer’s side set to compete on multiple front this season, Jones’ services may well be required.
Since moving to Old Trafford from Blackburn in 2011 Jones has played 224 times for the Red Devils, winning the Premier League, FA Cup, Europa League and League Cup.
However Jones has also been linked with a move away from the club.
SunSport exclusively revealed that Manchester United are planning a January clear-out, with SEVEN players up for sale.
One of those is Jones, as well as Donny van de Beek, Eric Bailly and Jesse Lingard.
Read our Man United live blog for the latest news and transfer gossip from Old Trafford
