Jones was highly-rated in his more formative years but a series of niggling injuries have so far prevented him from reaching his undoubted potential, but despite these set-backs, Jones still has time on his side.
Sir Alex Ferguson described the 25-year-old as a future United captain after signing him from Blackburn Rovers back in 2011 and Jose Mourinho certainly believes that there is a lot more to come from the England international, providing he can stay fit.
United arguably looked at their most solid with Jones at the heart of their defence last season and former Blackbrun man has started all three of United’s Premier League games so far this campaign, during which the ‘Red Devils’ are yet to concede a goal.
Speaking about Jones, Mourinho said: “He’s potentially a very good player. He’s still young. He’s still in a learning age but for years and years and years he was injury-prone.
“He has a problem now. He’s complaining about an ankle problem so he’s the kind of player where we need to have him always in our hands with a lot of care from the medical department, from the fitness coach, from my assistants, in the gym, working always on prevention, on recovery.
“If we manage to have him safe and protected from injuries, I think potentially he’s everything I like in a central defender.”
Can Mourinho keep Jones fit? And if so, just how far can the 25-year-old go in the game?