I’m just glad to be back vows Mark Jones
By Mark Currie, Daily Post
15 December 2007
MIDFIELDER
Mark Jones returns to the Wrexham squad for this afternoon’s match against
Brentford and is hoping for the chance to make an immediate impression on
manager Brian Little.
Jones, sidelined since mid-October with a back injury that forced him to miss
seven games, returned to training only last week, so he is anxious to make up
for lost time.
And the Dragons boss dropped a heavy hint yesterday that the Wales international
will be among the substitutes, even though he is obviously short of match
fitness.
Jones, together with Silvio Spann and Gareth Evans, has been added to the 16
players who were on duty at Dagenham & Redbridge last weekend and the 23-year
old is delighted.
“It was very disappointing to be injured when the gaffer joined us because first
impressions are important and everyone wants the chance to show what they can do
from the start,” said Jones.
“But I’ve been back in training for more than a week now and I’m pleased to be
in his thoughts for tomorrow. I’m a bit rusty because our last reserve game was
called off, but we had a full-scale practice match on Monday.”
Jones, whose contract is up at the end of the season, said he would not be
surprised if Little made efforts to strengthen his squad next month and insisted
he was happy to compete for his place.
“It’s a good time to be coming back because we have a busy period ahead of us
and the manager might need to use everyone in the squad at some stage,” added
Jones.
“At the moment, though, my aim is to force my way back into the side and that’s
what I’m concentrating on at the moment
“I think we’ll see some new faces here in January and everyone is in the same
boat at the moment. We have to work hard in training and in games and it will be
up to the manager and the coaching staff to decide what is best for the club.”
Little said Jones was one Wrexham player whose reputation had preceded him prior
to his own arrival at the Racecourse last month and is pleased to have him
available once more.
“Mark has done really well on the training ground over the past couple of weeks
and he’s got something a bit different to offer the team,” he said.
“I knew about him before I came and I have to say he looks to be a very good
player, who is very much in contention to be in the final 16 tomorrow. But I
won’t be telling the players who is involved until tomorrow.”
Much as he wants a return to winning ways this afternoon the Racecourse boss
said the game would have a minimal impact on the Dragons’ prospects for the
remainder of the season.
That’s not to say that Little is hoping for anything less than three points from
the club’s last home appearance before Christmas, but experience has taught him
to take individual results at face value.
And he wants his players and the club’s fans to take a more pragmatic view of
the situation in which the Dragons currently find themselves – one place off the
foot of the Football League.
In the eyes of many supporters who made the long trip to London last weekend,
Little’s honeymoon came to an abrupt end in the wake of the 3-0 defeat at
Dagenham.
For the manager it was just another step towards the goal of ensuring that the
club avoids relegation at the end of the season.
“Last week didn’t go well, but I said what I had to say straight after the game
and within 15 minutes of that one finishing we started thinking and talking
about this one on Saturday,” he added.
“I think I learned more from losing that than from the other games we’ve had and
we’ve been working hard this week on a style which we feel can win us the game
against Brentford.
“My job is to be successful and at this moment in time we are in a relegation
fight. I don’t want it go as far as relying on the last kick of the final match
of the season but I’d settle for that if necessary.
“As of now, though, this next game is the most important thing on my mind, but
if we don’t win it won’t be the worst thing in the world. If we win, I’ll
probably be happier than anyone because it’s my responsibility to make things
turn out the way everyone wants.
“But whatever the circumstances, I’ll keep my feet firmly on the ground and all
I can ask the players to do is to show the fans in every game that they are
trying their best to win.
“Their attitude in training this week has been spot-on and they are determined
to do that, there is no question about that.”