JJ is Russian to break a 44-year Killie record
KILMARNOCK haven’t had a player at the World Cup Finals since 1974, when Jim Stewart was Scotland’s third-choice keeper in West Germany.
Jordan Jones has his sights set on ending that 44-year drought next summer, and believes new Killie boss, Steve Clarke, can help him achive his dream.
The 23- year- old midfielder has just broken into Michael O’Neill’s Northern Ireland squad, who face Switzerland in next month’s play-offs for a place in Russia.
Jones believes victory there, coupled with him performing for his club, could see him at the greatest show on earth.
“If you don’t believe in yourself, then no-one else will,” said the man born in Middlesbrough to an Irish father.
“I feel I’m in the best form of my career, and the manager coming in can only be a positive for me.
“I was quite impressed by the fact the club were able to attract a manager of his calibre. We’d all seen his name mentioned, but were half- thinking: ‘Is that really going to happen?’.
“He’s a really big name in the game and has worked with some of the best managers there are.
“So to bring someone like him in is a good thing, not just for Kilmarnock but I think for Scottish football.
“He’s been brilliant with everyone so far, and long may that continue.
“I enjoyed the Northern Ireland call-up last month. I was on the bench for the Germany game, but not against Norway.
“Michael O’Neill was really happy with me. He said it’s obviously a really hard squad to get into, and the fact that I have broken into it was a massive thing in itself.
“He said the next thing is being on the bench, then breaking into the team.
“When I was a kid, if something positive happened, I would somehow manage to turn that into a negative by just being stupid off the pitch.
“But I am way past that now. When I got my call-up to the international squad, I went for a meal with my family whereas before I’d have gone out with 30 or 40 lads and turned the town upside down!
“It’s a brilliant squad and it was good to play with Premier League players and watch the way that they do things.
“Eventually that’s where you do want to end up – the English Premier League.
“No disrespect to Scotland, but that’s where I’ve always dreamed of playing. So – fingers crossed – one day I can get there.”