PRAISE THE JORD
Jones: I’m flying now after losing my way last December
JORDAN JONES insists he’s now a wise old head who won’t take his eye off the ball during January’s transfer window.
The Kilmarnock wideman admits speculation over his future throughout the last festive season knocked his form and derailed his hopes of landing a big-money move.
But this time around the 24-year-old believes that experience will ensure he’s not in any rush to head out of the Rugby Park exit despite being a free agent this summer.
He said: “Last year I had a bad December due to speculation unsettling me a bit. But I have done well this year and I’m coming back into good form.
“If I keep concentrating on my football then everything off the pitch will take care of itself. It’s something which is outwith my control.
“I’ve shown that I’ve learned from it as my performances have picked up in December whereas it dropped off last year as I was being told things and reading different things.
“It’s just experience and you need to blank it out. When I was released by Middlesbrough there was none of that, I was trying to get a club myself.
“So when I read a whole list of clubs were interested then I got distracted.
“This time I am focusing on my football and getting my rewards for it.
“It’s totally out of my control and the better I perform the better direction my career is going to go.”
Rangers are just one of the potential suitors when the window opens next month but Jones is adamant his debt of gratitude to Killie and boss Steve Clarke for salvaging his career will ensure he is fully committed until he departs.
He said: “I would never go in and kick the door down to get out. This is the club which gave me a chance.
“I proved last season that I wasn’t going to kick the door down to get a bigger club. Football is a business but I’ll give 100 per cent while I wear a Kilmarnock shirt.
“I’m really enjoying my football, I love it here and there can’t be many gaffers better to work for, especially in Scotland.
“It’s between my agent and the club when it comes to things off the pitch. I only control things on the pitch and that’s what I’m doing.”
Jones was the man who mattered against Motherwell with a Boxing Day winner that Stephen Robinson claimed had been a cross which ended up in the net.
But the Northern Ireland ace insisted his strike from the left flank was always intended as a shot and joked that his countryman should have given him the benefit of the doubt.
He said: “I can’t believe the Motherwell manager said that – I meant it. I looked up, saw their keeper off his line and smacked it in the far corner.
“I know Stephen from the Northern Ireland set-up as he has been around the camp and we get on well. That’s what makes it harsh for him to say I didn’t mean it.”
Killie’s win at Fir Park lifted them into third spot in the Premiership table and Jones believes another three points against St Mirren tomorrow would signal a successful December ahead of the winter break for a dressing room which refuses to slack off.
He said: “If we get three points against St Mirren on Saturday then it will be a good spell for us.
“We have a good group with a lot of experience and a lot of younger lads who are all pulling in the same direction. That’s why we are getting results.”