Phil Jones aiming to stay "fit and focused"

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 17 December 2014

Phil Jones hopes that his injury-plagued start to the season at Manchester United can be put behind him having made his return to action last weekend.

Manchester United defender Phil Jones has claimed that he is working hard on his fitness in order to put an injury-plagued start to the season behind him.

The 22-year-old made his return to action against Liverpool on the weekend following an eight-week layoff with a series of niggling injuries.

After making just five appearances for the Red Devils in the Premier League this term, Jones is now hoping to push on while also hitting out at those who suggest that he is injury prone.

"I started the pre-season and played every single game and every single training session," he told Sky Sports News. "I'd never had a muscle injury in my life and then on international duty, I pulled my hamstring so that was disappointing. And when I was coming back I then had shin splints.

"I didn't go into training and say I wanted to get injured that morning, it is just the way it has been. It has been unfortunate. I could stand here and list 10 players who are always out injured. I have been doing a lot of work in the gym, strength work on the reformer, yoga and pilates and loads of stuff.

"Hopefully that will stand me in good stead for the rest of the season. Hopefully I can stay fit, and look after myself in games. I will do anything I can to improve myself. My aim right now is to stay fit and stay focused, and get a run of games under my belt."

Jones made the move to Old Trafford from Blackburn Rovers in 2011 for a fee in the region of £16.5m.