Jones Feels Ready For First-team Return

Phil Jones feels ready to return to action in Manchester United's final three games of the campaign.

The centre-back played 62 minutes for the Under-21s against Southampton at Leigh Sports Village on Monday night, after being on the bench for the first-team defeat to West Brom at the weekend.

"I'm happy to play in the Under-21s and get some fitness," Jones told MUTV. "The lads did well. I feel I'm ready to go again and hopefully I can make the squad on Saturday. Hopefully, I'll recover on Tuesday, then train on Wednesday and Thursday, and see how it goes. I'll take it from there.

"[As a team], we have got a long way to go as there are still three games coming up, three massive games, and we have got to approach it in the right way. I'm sure we can do that and cement that top-four finish."

As well as marshalling the Under-21s defence on Monday night, Jones also contributed to the attack by forcing a fine save out of Southampton goalkeeper Will Britt in the first half and supplying a raking long ball to set up Ashley Fletcher's winner.

"I probably should have scored myself but Fletch brought it [my pass] down nicely and it was a great finish," he added. "It's good to see that talent coming through in the Under-21s. I think they have all done well but Donald Love did well at right-back, James Weir too and Fletch, up front, was terrific."