Killie hero Jones has the world at his feet, insists Lee
UNPLAYABLE. That’s how Kilmarnock manager Lee McCulloch sees Jordan Jones on days like these. And he wants the whole world to know about it.
Having left the former Middlesbrough winger out of the side which lost 2-0 at Motherwell last week, McCulloch called him in for a meeting on Monday to spell out what kind of platform has been provided for him at Rugby Park.
On standby for Northern Ireland for their last World Cup qualifiers against San Marino and the Czech Republic, and called into a training camp at the end of last season, the English-born 22-year-old — who qualifies for Michael O’Neill’s side through his father Paul — has the real possibility of booking himself a place on the flight to Russia 2018.
Keep performing like this and he will be a shoo-in. Indeed, McCulloch insists a trip to the World Cup will just be the start if he can harness his natural ability and belief in himself.
Following a torrid opening quarter of yesterday’s match, which saw Aberdeen take the lead through Stevie May, it could be argued that the real catalyst for Kilmarnock’s comeback was an enforced change when Iain Wilson was taken off on 22 minutes with a knee injury to be replaced by Dean Hawkshaw.
That switch saw McCulloch go from five at the back to a more conventional four and resulted in the pendulum swinging in the visitors’ favour — and Jones’ contribution was an integral part of that development.
He gave Shay Logan a torrid time and levelled the scores at the start of the second half.
Jones was at the centre of almost everything positive they did in a deserved result which ended a horrific run of 13 straight losses to Aberdeen dating back to April 2013 and wrecked the Dons’ 100-per-cent domestic record at Pittodrie this season. There was concern in the closing moments when he was taken off clutching his thigh and replaced by Chris Burke as Killie stood strong against a late rally.
However, the fitness reports are good. There is no damage done and he will be raring to go with this renewed appetite when Dundee visit Rugby Park next weekend.
‘Jordan is all right. He just needs a cuddle now and again,’ said McCulloch.
‘If he keeps playing like that, then this club won’t be able to keep hold of him. Unplayable? That is what he is. We try to encourage him every day and get him out of his comfort zone. That’s making him realise how good a player he is. He must realise he can play at the World Cup and it’s about consistency.’
In addition to tweaking Killie’s formation, McCulloch made four changes from Fir Park. To no avail.
Following a dominant opening ten minutes from Aberdeen, May was permitted to play a little keepieuppie at the back post before firing his side into the lead.
Graeme Shinnie delivered a good cross from the left and the former St Johnstone man had enough time to flick the ball into the air with his right foot before volleying it home with his left.
Three goals in his last four outings is a pleasing return and he offers Aberdeen different options to those they have enjoyed in recent seasons. However, he also brings a notable work ethic.
That was clearly evident in the 27th minute when, after the impressive Jones had led a counterattack from the visitors, May slid in with a crucial blocking tackle in his own area as Lee Erwin prepared to pull the trigger.
Killie, settling into their new formation, had their act together by that point. Jones went on to release a low drive comfortably held by Joe Lewis.
The keeper then produced an accomplished save from a Rory McKenzie shot on the turn on 36 minutes.
Aberdeen’s early momentum had faded. Urgency and tempo a distant memory.
In many ways, it was similar to what happened in the goalless draw with Hearts last weekend and is something manager Derek McInnes must address before Thursday’s Betfred Cup quarter-final at Motherwell.
The home fans’ sense of foreboding increased and the Kilmarnock equaliser arrived three minutes into the second half.
Jones picked up the ball on the left side of the Aberdeen area and his right-footed effort appeared to take a deflection off Kari Arnason’s knee
before looping over the stranded Lewis into the far corner of the net.
As the Kilmarnock celebrations began, recriminations were evident within the Dons side.
Kenny McLean, in particular, vented his anger at team-mate Greg Stewart, who had given up possession too easily in the lead-up to the Killie equaliser.
The lack of any meaningful response could be taken as an admission of culpability.
Stuart Findlay then came close for Killie after putting in a shot from a Jones corner that bounced off the top of the crossbar before being cleared.
Ryan Christie and Gary MackaySteven were thrown on for the ineffective Nicky Maynard and Stewart just before the hour.
On-loan Celtic man Christie attempted to shake the Dons out of their torpor with a toe-poked effort that went wide and it worked, to a degree.
McLean forced a save from Killie keeper Jamie MacDonald at the near post with a flick-on from a May free-kick.
There were loud claims from Aberdeen for a penalty in the 88th minute after Mackay-Steven went down in the area following a strange off-the-ball tussle with O’Donnell, but a winner would have been cruel on the visitors.
‘We thoroughly deserved the point,’ said McCulloch. ‘We were competing for second balls and the boys gave us everything they had.’