Hungerford Town boss Danny Robinson has hailed the "outstanding" impact Bristol Rovers winger Ryan Jones has made during his loan, rating the 20-year-old as one of the best technical talents he has worked with.
Jones joined the Gas from Weston-super-Mare in 2020 and has made seven first-team appearances, scoring once, although he is yet to make his league debut for Joey Barton's side with the end of his contract looming at the end of the season.
It remains to be seen what the future holds for Jones in BS7, but he is capitalising on the platform he has on loan in the National League South with the Crusaders, becoming an important player in Robinson's side alongside fellow Gas prospect Jed Ward, who has caught the eye in goal.
Jones is a versatile player who can operate in defence, midfield or attack, and he started out at Hungerford in a left-back role. However, he has been pushed further forward in recent weeks and he has scored three goals in his past three appearances, including a brace in a crucial 5-2 win at relegation rivals Weymouth – with his team now four points from safety with eight games to play.
"Since he’s walked through the door, he’s been absolutely outstanding for us," Robinson told Bristol Live. "Technically, he is one of the best players I have had the privilege of working with.
"He is very technically gifted and I can sit there in training and watch him in training all day long. What he can do with a football at his feet is unbelievable.
"He’s played left-back for us, he’s played left side of midfield and, obviously, the goals have come a bit more freely since he’s gone into midfield and we’ve got a regular left-back in.
"He’s played in both positions really well. I do feel he can get better defending in one-on-one situations but going forward, he can be frightening at times and he has scored some important goals for us lately."
Rovers nipped in ahead of significant competition to sign Jones in 2020 after his fine performances for Weston-super-Mare in the Southern League alerted Premier League clubs Fulham and Wolves, who wanted to sign Jones for their under-21s setups and he played a game on trial for the Cottagers before turning down a contract offer in favour of joining the Gas.
However, he is yet to make a breakthrough as a first-team player at the Mem, and the lack of a development squad has meant he has had to head out on loan for match action. As a result, he has spent time out of the gaze of Barton, although he still trains regularly at The Quarters.
Robinson says Jones "ticks a lot of boxes" for what teams will look for in a player of his type.
"He’s dealt with the physicality and he has got better with it," he added. "He spent a little bit of time with Bath City last year and I think that was one of the question marks (manager) Jerry (Gill) had about him, the physicality side of things. But there has not been a single minute of a game of football where I have thought to myself he is not physically strong enough to play that level.
"Can he go up the levels? As you go up the levels, the more physical it gets, but at Step Two level he has done really well for us both physicality and quality-wise. On the mental side of things, I think it could be a little bit better as in a stronger mentality when things don’t go quite right, but other than that, he will tick a lot of boxes for a lot of teams."
In terms of nailing down Jones' best position, Robinson believes the 20-year-old is not limited, with his traits making him suitable to play as a winger in a front three or a midfield four, but his best place could be at left-back if he can improve his defensive attributes.
"He’s definitely better when he’s coming onto the ball and these new-age full-backs can play further up the pitch with possession-based football," Robinson said. "He could play that well, but the defending side of things he needs to improve on and that’s what we spoke about.
"But since he’s gone to the left of a front three, he’s been devastating at times. Anywhere on that left-hand side, he can be a very good player for whoever he plays for."
Hungerford's battle to avoid relegation has been aided by two loan signings from the Gas in Jones and Ward, and Robinson is grateful for the connection he shares with the club and head of football operations Eddy Jennings.
"One hundred per cent, that is what you need at a small club like Hungerford," he added. "It’s important to have good connections with league clubs. We’ve got a good connection with Wycombe Wanderers as well.
"Bristol Rovers this year, Eddy especially, have been absolutely brilliant for us. When we have asked to extend, they have always done it for us, and the reports we get back from both lads are they are enjoying their time at Hungerford.
"They seem to be absolutely loving life at Hungerford, so it works both ways. It’s very important we do have these connections and long may it continue, I’m sure it will."
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