Jones pleased by starring role

Phil Jones has been surprised at the number of appearances he has made for Manchester United in his first season at Old Trafford.

Sir Alex Ferguson splashed out £18million to sign Jones from Blackburn last summer. It was envisaged United would ease the Chorley-born player in gradually but partly through his performances and partly through injuries elsewhere, Jones has been thrown in at the deep end.

Sunday's win over Swansea represented his 40th appearance of the campaign in all competitions, and Jones said: "If anyone had told me at the start of the season I would have made 40 appearances for Manchester United I would have snapped their hands off. It is incredible."

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