Manchester United are to offer Phil Jones a new contract and the defender is open to
tieing himself to the club beyond the two years that he will have left
on his current deal in the summer.
Talks have not yet started owing to Jones having an injury-interrupted campaign, though the 22-year-old has been told that David Moyes views him as an essential member of the team over the coming seasons.
Jones, in the third season of a five-year deal, earns around £50,000 a week and he can expect a marked increase on these terms. The hope is that a strong finish to the campaign can pave the way for smooth negotiations and United do not expect any particular stumbling blocks to Jones committing his future to the club.
Jones's growing status at United is also due to the departure of Nemanja Vidic in the close season.
Jones's desire to throw himself into every challenge is of concern to Moyes as this is a prime factor in the number of injuries he has suffered. Since breaking into the Blackburn Rovers's team in 2010 Jones has suffered 18 different injuries of varying degree, with 16 of those coming at United, dating from December 2011.
This season Jones has been injured on five different occasions, with these including foot, pelvis, knee and hip problems plus concussion, though he has still managed 30 appearances for United – including in the Community Shield – and two more for England.
Moyes said: "I think that is how he plays. He is an old-fashioned player who throws himself about and you may say: 'Why did you do that?' But that is why he has had a few injuries and been caught out a few times. We certainly don't want that to continue. We think that, with maturity, he will recognise when he should go for it and when he should stand up."
Despite Jones having signed in summer 2011 to join Smalling, who was bought the year before, the pair only played together for a first time in central defence earlier this month, in the 3-0 win at West Bromwich Albion.
Of the partnership, Jones said: "I think the first 'click' I really had was playing in the Under-21s with Chris Smalling at the back. I thought every time we played together, we understood each other's game and we complemented each other well. Hopefully that can kick off at Manchester United as well."
Jones's ability to step into midfield to play an anchoring role with ease is a further plus for Moyes. Last month the Scot said: "I see Jones settling in at centre-back and, in time, he will become a very good centre-back, but I think, right now, he is a very good defensive midfield player which we might need in some games."
When signing in June 2011 in a £17m transfer from Rovers Jones described joining United as a "once in a lifetime opportunity" after Sir Alex Ferguson had spotted his potential despite him having made his Premier League debut only that spring.
Jones made his England debut against Montenegro in 2011 and was praised by the then manager Fabio Capello for being "born with talent". However, he has managed nine caps for the national team since. He featured in the home friendlies against Scotland and Chile as a substitute this season.
Talks have not yet started owing to Jones having an injury-interrupted campaign, though the 22-year-old has been told that David Moyes views him as an essential member of the team over the coming seasons.
Jones, in the third season of a five-year deal, earns around £50,000 a week and he can expect a marked increase on these terms. The hope is that a strong finish to the campaign can pave the way for smooth negotiations and United do not expect any particular stumbling blocks to Jones committing his future to the club.
Jones's growing status at United is also due to the departure of Nemanja Vidic in the close season.
Jones's desire to throw himself into every challenge is of concern to Moyes as this is a prime factor in the number of injuries he has suffered. Since breaking into the Blackburn Rovers's team in 2010 Jones has suffered 18 different injuries of varying degree, with 16 of those coming at United, dating from December 2011.
This season Jones has been injured on five different occasions, with these including foot, pelvis, knee and hip problems plus concussion, though he has still managed 30 appearances for United – including in the Community Shield – and two more for England.
Moyes said: "I think that is how he plays. He is an old-fashioned player who throws himself about and you may say: 'Why did you do that?' But that is why he has had a few injuries and been caught out a few times. We certainly don't want that to continue. We think that, with maturity, he will recognise when he should go for it and when he should stand up."
Despite Jones having signed in summer 2011 to join Smalling, who was bought the year before, the pair only played together for a first time in central defence earlier this month, in the 3-0 win at West Bromwich Albion.
Of the partnership, Jones said: "I think the first 'click' I really had was playing in the Under-21s with Chris Smalling at the back. I thought every time we played together, we understood each other's game and we complemented each other well. Hopefully that can kick off at Manchester United as well."
Jones's ability to step into midfield to play an anchoring role with ease is a further plus for Moyes. Last month the Scot said: "I see Jones settling in at centre-back and, in time, he will become a very good centre-back, but I think, right now, he is a very good defensive midfield player which we might need in some games."
When signing in June 2011 in a £17m transfer from Rovers Jones described joining United as a "once in a lifetime opportunity" after Sir Alex Ferguson had spotted his potential despite him having made his Premier League debut only that spring.
Jones made his England debut against Montenegro in 2011 and was praised by the then manager Fabio Capello for being "born with talent". However, he has managed nine caps for the national team since. He featured in the home friendlies against Scotland and Chile as a substitute this season.