Source: Team_Talk
PJ proud of Edwards comparison
Manchester United defender Phil Jones admits he is flattered by comparisons with Duncan Edwards, and has set his sights on going to Euro 2012. Edwards died aged 21 in the Munich air disaster, but despite his tender age he was already considered one of the best defenders in Europe and was an England international.Now both in terms of their looks and style of play, and ability to potentially lead their country - many onlookers at Old Trafford feel Jones is the closest thing to a new version of Edwards.And Jones admits he is proud to be mentioned in the same breath as Edwards."It's brilliant for me to even be considered as being a player who could become as good as Duncan Edwards was," Jones told the Daily Telegraph."It is flattering and, for young lads like myself and my team-mates to be compared to great young players of the past, it is an amazing feeling."People have told me about Duncan, facts and figures about him, but I obviously know what he means to this club. "When you come into training in the morning, knowing that people are talking about you in the same breath as players of the Busby era, it is fantastic, but I can't let it affect me. I have to play my own game and continue to do what I have been doing so far."I wanted to come here and play. I didn't want to come from playing every week at Blackburn to becoming a bit-part player at United, but I knew I probably had to do that at the start."I wanted to come to United because I felt that the club was right for me, so if I had to wait, I was prepared for it." And the hype and star billing? "One of my strong points is that, no matter what anyone says about me, it will not affect me, it's because I believe in my ability and what I can achieve."I know I am good enough to be here, otherwise the manager wouldn't have paid the money he spent to bring me to the club."It doesn't matter what anyone tells me, I know that I can rely on myself. It comes from my parents. They are the same strong-minded people as I am and I just don't let anyone bring me down."I want to be a successful player. I want to be remembered one day as a great player, good athlete, good professional. I don't want to be a player that people don't remember, but I have to work hard for that. I have to do some grafting, but it is something I am willing to do."Jones admits that once he heard about Sir Alex Ferguson wanting to sign him in the summer, there was little doubt he would be moving to Old Trafford."It was brilliant when I heard of United's interest, an incredible feeling," he said."The whole experience - speaking to the manager on the phone, meeting him in person, going through the whole process of signing - was fantastic."Lots of clubs showed an interest in me, but United just felt right; the whole club, the set-up. It wasn't the fact that it was United, it was that I walked in here and met people, the staff and physios et cetera, and it just felt right."At Blackburn, when I knew there was interest from bigger clubs, I said to myself that if it [a move] happens, then it has to feel right and this felt right."Jones move was delayed by a number of days amid reports Blackburn's owners, Venky's, wanted more money - but he admitted he was never in doubt the deal would be done."I was never concerned that it wouldn't happen," Jones said. "I was always confident because I knew it was happening. Rumours were flying around and people were talking about all sorts of things, but I knew 100 per cent that it would happen."There was talk of the Blackburn owners not willing to sell for a certain price, that they wouldn't sell at all, but it wasn't the case."There were even rumours on Twitter that I had failed a medical, which was simply not true. I was seeing all this on Twitter, knowing the reality of the situation, but I decided not to get involved and respond to it."I was laughing at some of the tweets, though, because people really didn't understand what was going on."I spoke to [Blackburn manager] Steve Kean over the phone and he was great to me."When it all went through he called me and wished me all the best and told me that I should be going to United as the number one because I was good enough to do it."Many believe Jones is ready to step into the senior England side, but he admits at the moment he is more than happy playing for the Under-21s."The Under-21s is still a big thing because it is a massive honour to represent your country at any level. The Under-21s are no different. The lads and the coaching staff are great and I am still learning. Any international football is a learning experience."Euro 2012 would be great, but I have to keep performing well for United if that is to happen."I was in with the seniors for the last game, against Wales, and that was a brilliant experience."Once you get a taste you want more and I want to be pushing for senior recognition. Just because I am 19 doesn't mean that I shouldn't be challenging for a place in the England squad."If I keep doing well and my performances are showing that, then I don't see why not."