JONES’ PRAISE FOR TOON BOSS

NATHAN JONES revealed he turned to Eddie Howe for a shoulder to cry on after being sacked by Stoke in 2019.

But the Southampton boss is still determined to wreck Howe’s hopes of ending Newcastle’s 68-year trophy drought.

The rival managers have followed similar paths to the Premier League by earning their coaching corn in the lower divisions on the back of unspectacular playing careers.

Ex-Luton chief Jones said: “I’ve known Eddie for years in terms of coming up against him.

“When I was at Yeovil and he was at Bournemouth, we were in League One and he was just down the road and we knew people in common so there was a healthy respect for what he’s done.

“I also came up against him when I was at Brighton, you get to know people.

Advice

“I called him up once when I left Stoke for a bit of advice and then I messaged him about something and we had a conversation about stuff.

“When I went back to Luton, people said, ‘Don’t go back unless you are going to do an Eddie Howe’ and I took the latter bit of advice — and that’s what happened in the end.

“He is a good guy. He has had to work hard and come through with no silver spoon and I am really pleased to see him doing well.

“I hope he has a disastrous semi-final! But apart from that, there is a very healthy respect there.”

Jones has also urged Saints fans not to hammer Jan Bednarek for the “daft” comments he made after joining Aston Villa on loan.

Poland defender Bednarek (26), who labelled Villa “a bigger club” when he made the switch last summer, is expected to be in the squad after being recalled.

Jones added: “When you go to a new club, you say anything that would endear you to the fans. Let’s not read too much into it.”