Happy Vale loanee Alex Jones wants to stay until the end of the season
Port Vale’s on-loan forward says he enjoys playing regular first-team football and he is hopeful that his loan spell will be extended until the end of the season.
Jones joined Vale on loan from Birmingham and has scored six goals for Vale already including one in the 3-1 win over Millwall in midweek.
He spoke to the Birmingham Mail the day after the Millwall win, his 22nd birthday and told the newspaper: “I think playing out wide, as different as it is for me, I’m really enjoying it. When you’re playing number nine, most of the game you are with your back to goal, holding the ball up, especially on your own in a 4-3-3.
Whether that happens or not isn’t always within my control but I’m hopeful that all parties will agree and I can stay…
“I have licence to drift inside and get on the ball a bit more and create chances for myself. The way the manager wants me to play, he’s not obsessed about me getting back, it’s more me staying higher up the pitch. I’m enjoying playing out there.”
Jones is on loan until the New Year but is hopeful of staying longer. He told the Mail: “I’m playing every week, loving my football and getting on great with the lads. There’s a really good atmosphere and I’ve said I’d be open to staying until the end of the season.
“Whether that happens or not isn’t always within my control but I’m hopeful that all parties will agree and I can stay. Then we can see how far we can go as a group.”
Commenting on Vale manager Bruno Ribeiro Jones said: “He’s got his beliefs and the way he wants to play fits in perfectly with my style of game. The problem at Birmingham is that I don’t suit that style of play as much. Whereas the way Bruno plays, it fits in perfectly with me.”
Jones also paid tribute to fellow wideman Jerome Thomas commenting: “He’s been great with me. Especially with me playing out wide, he’s given me loads of advice and loads of things to think about to try and improve my game. He’s still got so much talent.”
Full interview: http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/free-scoring-birmingham-city-strikers-11954038?