Club News

Jones: Pressure's on me

Right-back hoping he has done enough to fend off Reid's challenge

BILLY Jones hopes he has done enough to fend off the challenge of fit-again Steven Reid for the right-back slot against Chelsea on Saturday (ko 3pm).

Jones has enjoyed back-to-back victories over Southampton and Wigan since returning to the team after five weeks on the sidelines himself due to medial knee ligament damage.

He played a huge part in what turned out to be the winner at the DW Stadium and earned rave reviews for his performance.

But, if he keeps his place in Steve Clarke’s XI against the European champions, he knows he must maintain those standards to avoid losing his place to Reid.

“Reidy started the season in the team so he was the starting right-back and I knew, with that being the gaffer’s decision, that I would have to wait for my chance,” said Jones.

“When the team is winning you know you’ve got to bide your time, and you’re happy because the team are doing well.

“I was just waiting for my chance and hopefully now I can get a run of games and give the gaffer a headache when it comes to me and Reidy being back and available for selection so I can show him what I can do.

“From a personal point of view I want to step in and do my job and, like every player, not let the team down.

“I want to just add to a good team performance and if that means I am helping my personal ambition of nailing down a spot, that’s good.

“Hopefully that will lead to the team winning games and me doing well as well.”

Jones has recovered from a disappointing afternoon in Albion’s 3-0 defeat at Fulham to enhance his claim to the right-back spot.

And the 25-year-old believes he is getting to grips with the demands of the Premier League.

“In the Fulham game the penalty was the thing I was really annoyed about because it was uncharacteristic for me. I don’t go diving in normally,” he added.

“That aside, I have felt happy with how I’ve done and I felt like I was playing really well in the Villa game up until I got injured.

“I think my performance against Southampton was probably my best so far and hopefully I can take that into the future, for however many games it lasts.

“Hopefully I can carry on playing well and being consistent and when it comes to Reidy being fit and available the gaffer has a headache, like he has in every position at the moment, which is good.”