Why Brad Jones is Championship?s No 1

29 September 2009 09:22
MIDDLESBROUGH’S fans may be split about the merits of Brad Jones, but Gareth Southgate last night claimed the Australian has all the ingredients to become the Championship’s best goalkeeper this season. Jones justified his recall to Southgate’s starting line-up at Coventry City on Saturday, when he impressed before conceding two late goals. The Boro boss made the decision after Danny Coyne, who became well liked by supporters after a fine start to his career on Teesside, was between the posts for the 5-0 defeat at the hands of West Brom on September 19. While Saturday’s selection raised eyebrows, Southgate feels Jones has the potential to be an international star, and the 27-year-old has his eyes on playing for Australia at next summer’s World Cup. Jones, who has one cap, has been placed on stand by for the Aussies’ friendly with Holland in Sydney on October 10, when club-mate Rhys Williams is expected to figure. He will also retain his place for Middlesbrough against Leicester City at the Riverside Stadium tonight, when Southgate needs his side to claim three points to keep the pressure on the top two. “He is a good goalkeeper and the fact he is on stand by for Australia even though he has not been in first team until now shows how good he is,” said Southgate, whose side sit five points adrift of leaders Newcastle. “Brad started the year as our number one and he waited for his opportunity for a long time but he knows he has to perform to keep his place which is a good position for us to be in. “He has been very, very unfortunate, he was in our team at the beginning of last year and he got injured in the warm up in the second game, and got injured just before the start of this season. “But he wants to play he needs to play, he has a great pride in keeping goal and he will be as good as there will be in this division.” Jones’ return to injury may have given Southgate an interesting conundrum before Saturday’s trip to the Ricoh Arena, but injuries to Caleb Folan and Justin Hoyte have restricted his thinking ahead of tonight. Folan, an unused substitute at Coventry, tore a hamstring in training on Sunday and Hoyte, replaced at right-back by Tony McMahon, suffered ankle ligament damage. But it is the injury to the striker on loan from Hull that has come as the biggest blow to Southgate, having only taken the player on a threemonth loan just over two weeks ago. “We have to see how he is. It is a 93-day loan and within the first 28 days of that there is no recall so at the moment we are just looking at the fact he is with us and it is our duty of care to look after him,” said Southgate. Folan, due a scan tomorrow, will withdraw from the Republic of Ireland squad to face Italy and Montenegro in World Cup qualifiers next month, when Sean St Ledger will be hoping to play at Croke Park. But, despite fears Folan will be out for six weeks, Southgate is not about to rush to ask chairman Steve Gibson to bring in another new face. Southgate said: “We are always keeping our eyes open and monitoring different situations in case we need to strengthen. But bringing someone else in is not something I have discussed.” Middlesbrough: Jones; McMahon, St Ledger, Wheater, Bennett; O’Neil, Williams, Arca, Johnson; Emnes, Aliadiere. ■ Marvin Emnes is in the Netherlands Under-21 squad to play European Championship games against Finland on October 9 and Poland on October 13. ■ Boro fans can book seats for home games against Watford on October 17 (3pm) and Derby County on October 20 (8pm). Prices for Boro Pride members for all three games start at £8 for under-18s, £14 18-21s and over-65s and £21 adults. They can also purchase a family ticket for one adult and one under-18 in blocks 44 or 46 of the East Stand for £27. General sale prices start at £13 under-18s, £16 over-65s and £23 adults. 18-21s pay adult general sale prices.

Source: Northern_Echo