I blew it at Boro but Killie saved me and I won’t make same mistakes
KILLIE LATEST IRISHMAN’S VOW
JORDAN JONES was full of mixed emotions after Northern Ireland missed out on a World Cup place.
The Kilmarnock midfielder made his debut off the bench in the goalless second-leg play-off draw with Switzerland which ended their Russia 2018 dream.
Jones revealed his devastated team-mates were in tears in the dressing room following their cruel 1-0 aggregate exit.
Michael O’Neill’s men still feel a huge sense of injustice at the atrocious first-leg penalty award in favour of the Swiss which robbed them of a first World Cup appearance in 32 years.
Jones is as gutted as anyone to miss out on a place at Russia 2018 but he is also counting his blessings this season.
Winning his first cap completes a remarkable transformation for the proud 23-year-old who blew his big chance when he was released by Middlesbrough last year but is now thriving at Killie.
Jones said: “We were all just devastated. We feel as if we’ve been robbed out of a World Cup by a refereeing decision.
“It’s absolutely heartbreaking. Grown men were crying and devastated we weren’t going to the World Cup. It makes it ten times worse, how it happened.
“The manager said that in his speech after the game how good the performance was but it didn’t matter what anyone said in that dressing room.
“Once I came away from the situation and had time to think, I realised that it was a big thing for the manager to put me on in that situation.
“It was probably the most important 15 minutes of his managerial career. For him to trust me like that makes me feel good about myself.
“It was mixed for me. I was devastated at not reaching a World Cup but I was proud to play coming from where I’d been 18 months before.”
Jones admits he came close to throwing it all away because of his bad attitude while at local club Boro.
But he’s come a long way since joining Killie last June after being given a second chance by then-manager Lee Clark.
He said: “I had everything on a plate when I was 18. I was playing at Middlesbrough and I took everything the wrong way. Reacted to everything.
“Any positive I had between the ages of 17 and 20, I somehow managed to turn it into a negative. You just have to grow up. The way I react to things now is more mature.
“I want to get better as a player and person as well. Back
It’s up to me to take my chance with both hands – I’m starting to do that JORDAN JONES
then, suddenly I had nothing. Killie had faith in me and I will be forever grateful.
“Once I was here, I knew this was it. No messing around anymore. Change your attitude and work hard.
“It’s up to me to take my chance with both hands and I’m starting to do that and show my potential.
“I need to make sure I can keep everything right on and off the pitch and keep working hard. Get better and better. The possibilities will be there to go to the Euros if I do.”
Now Jones is looking to the future. Having Steve Clarke and Michael O’Neill as his managers for club and country will ensure he won’t make the same mistakes again.
He said: “I’ve always been told by my coaches I can go wherever I want to go in the game.
“The only person that is going to stop it is myself. It had reached a point where I had stopped myself, so now I appreciate the position I’m in.
“I don’t ever want to let that slip away – and I can say it never will again.” ● Jones spoke to launch Killie’s Part Season Ticket, which starts for the home game against Aberdeen on November 26. They are also offering a Multi-Match Package which gives entry to all remaining home league games from January 1, 2018.