Daniel Jones reflects on Wolves breakthrough, injuries and life after the game | OneFootball

Twenty years after his Wolves breakthrough, local lad Daniel Jones has looked back on a whirlwind start under Glenn Hoddle and Mick McCarthy. Wolves face Port Vale tomorrow, and Jones was with Vale the last time the clubs met.

As reported by ExpressAndStar.com, Jones debuted at Plymouth in 2006 in a side featuring Paul Ince, Jody Craddock, Joleon Lescott, Mark Kennedy and Kenny Miller. He was withdrawn just after the hour, with future Wolves boss Rob Edwards coming on.

With parachute payments gone that summer, McCarthy turned to youth, integrating Jones and Mark Little. Then 19, Jones’ first three starts in 2006/07 brought 1-0 wins at Burnley and Leeds and at home to Luton, followed by defeat to Derby and four straight draws. Across 11 Wolves appearances, he lost only twice.

Spotted by scout Roger Fletcher at Brierley Hill Bullets, Jones joined the Academy at 10 and was part of the group that reached the FA Youth Cup semi-finals in 2004/05. A broken leg kept him out, but the rehab, he says, hardened his mentality.

Loans to Northampton, Oldham, Notts County and Bristol Rovers followed, before a permanent exit in 2010. Jones preferred attacking full back or wing back, while McCarthy often used him wide, and he now accepts he could have handled that debate better.

An ankle injury at Northampton lingered, and despite playing through pain at Sheffield Wednesday and Chesterfield, he eventually needed an ankle replacement and retired. There were highs, including a first senior goal at Nottingham Forest, promotions with Wednesday and Vale, and facing Wolves home and away in 2013/14, the Molineux game ending 3-0. Now in Dublin, he runs a gym, remains a Wolves fan, and treasures family life, with daughter Sienna excelling in sport and son Hunter thriving after major surgery.

Source: ExpressAndStar.com

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