Killie winger looks to shine for O’Neill

Jordan Jones is ready to fulfil Michael O’Neill’s prophecy and become a Northern Ireland fans’ favourite.

O’Neill had said Jones was a player supporters “will love” when he first called him up earlier this season, and the 23-year-old made a lively cameo from the bench in the World Cup play-off with Switzerland in November.

Now the Kilmarnock winger is hoping to live up to O’Neill’s billing ahead of a possible first international start when South Korea visit Belfast this weekend.

“I think it is a really big compliment and you have to make sure you don’t get too excited about those compliments and go out and prove him right,” Jones said.

Not every manager is enamoured with Jones, with Aberdeen chief Derek McInnes recently inferring he dived to win a penalty and St Johnstone boss Tommy Wright also angered by the winger earning set-pieces against his side.

Jones says he is unperturbed by such comments and only worried about the opinions of O’Neill and club boss Steve Clarke.

Hailed by Michael O’Neill: Jordan Jones.