This archive report was first published on 4 January 2022.
January 3, 2022, marked a significant moment for Manchester United's Phil Jones as he returned to the pitch after a nearly two-year absence due to a knee injury. Jones, who had not played for the club since their FA Cup win over Tranmere Rovers in January 2020, partnered Raphael Varane against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the absence of Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof, and Eric Bailly.
Manchester United's Luke Shaw hailed Jones' return as 'phenomenal' and expressed his admiration for his teammate's dedication and professionalism. Shaw told Sky Sports, 'Phil Jones should be proud of himself, he's been criticised constantly for a number of years. People have been getting at him but he's stuck by it, he's so professional and trains so hard.'
Shaw also acknowledged the challenges Jones faced during his recovery, saying, 'I think he needs a lot of respect for that tonight because he was out for over a year and this was really his first big game back. I'm very happy for him after what he's been through.'
