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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Samuel Luckhurst

Why Phil Jones is not listed on the Manchester United programme squad list

Manchester United omitted Phil Jones from their programme squad list as he was not included in their domestic or European squads.

Jones has started two games in the last three years due to a long-term knee injury and his name does not appear on the back of the matchday programme for Old Trafford games.

United excluded Jones from their Premier League and Europa League squads that were submitted in September and manager Erik ten Hag last week confirmed Jones had not completed a single training session since United started pre-season in June.

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Jones was named in the United squad list for the first four home games of the season against Brighton, Liverpool, Arsenal and Real Sociedad, but it transpires his name has been missing since United's first home game in October against Omonia Nicosia.

Although United confirmed their Europa League squad on September 5 - three days before the visit of Real Sociedad - the print deadlines meant Jones's name appeared on the squad list.

United's Premier League squad was announced on September 14 - 10 days after the win over Arsenal. Jones's name has also been absent for all six domestic home cup games.

"For the whole season he's injured," Ten Hag said last week. "I can't say (if Jones will play again this season). What I can say is that he's not available for training since the first day of training this season so I think there's not an opportunity for you to recover quickly and be available quickly."

Jones, 31, is almost certain to be released by United when his contract expires on June 30. He started in the defeats to Wolves and Liverpool last season but failed to make a single appearance in the 2020-21 season and has likely played for United for the last time.

Since Jones signed a four-and-a-half-year contract in February 2019, he has started 16 times and completed 90 minutes on 12 occasions.

United signed Jones for £16 million from Blackburn Rovers in 2011 and he has won Premier League, FA Cup and Europa League winners' medals.

Jones did not play a single minute in United's triumphant FA Cup run in 2016 and he only started in two of their 13 Europa League ties the following year.

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