NI boys on form for Burnley

Burnley’s NI contingent have been in free-scoring form at the Championship club recently. Last Tuesday, they were 3-0 up against Plymouth at half-time thanks to a header from Duff and further strikes from Steve Jones and on-loan striker Paul McVeigh (remember him?!). Seems to be sporting a rather girly pony tail these days. It was the 29 year-old’s first goal for 13 months.



Yesterday, Jones and McVeigh were on target again, against Cardiff, and afterwards boss Steve Cotterill also praised the performance of Duff at full-back.
In between, Burnley recorded a tremendous 1-0 victory over Birmingham.

Jones interview

The Burnley website have an interview with new signing Steve Jones:
“Crewe offered me a four year extension in November, but to be honest I wanted a fresh challenge and I am delighted to come to such a big club.
“A few clubs approached me, but as soon as I spoke to Steve Cotterill that was it. He sold the club to me and told me what he was wanted from me and the players he is looking to bring in. Obviously he is hopeful for the future and I think we can do good things.”
“I want to establish myself here now and I can’t wait to get going. There are challenges to be met, but when you look at the players Steve has brought in and the stadium and the fan base here, everything is in place.”
Jones arrives at Turf Moor after spending five years at Crewe, where he scored 45 goals in 173 appearances. And the striker, an international room mate of fellow Northern Ireland international Michael Duff, believes he can forge a strong partnership with Andy Gray next season.
He insisted: “I’d like to think I’m a guy who can bring a lot of pace and goals to the team. I’ve been playing mostly on the wing last year and done quite well, but I’ve been missing a Dean Ashton type partner at Crewe and hopefully Andy Gray can be something like that. He is similar to Dean in that he is a big lad who holds the ball up well and flicks it on, so hopefully that is something I can capitalise on.”

Jones and Duff have both been called up for the US tour. Jones said:
“I’m excited about the forthcoming trip. Not only is it two more caps on the bounce, but we are playing world class teams in Uruguay and Romania, which can only benefit the country.”
Kyle Lafferty has been called up for the U21 match against Liechtenstein on Wednesday night.

Burnley snap up Jones

29 year old Northern Ireland forward Steve Jones has moved to Burnley after turning down the offer of a new contract at fellow-Championship side Crewe Alexandra. Jones has signed a 3 year deal with the Clarets. Manager Steve Cotterill:
“We are delighted to have agreed a deal for Steve, who I think will be one of the best Bosman signings of the summer.

“He is a great lad who possesses great pace and I feel we could have done with that this season. If so, we could possibly have turned some of the draws into wins. But we cannot look back and instead we look forward to Steve linking up with the rest of the squad when they return for pre-season training.”
Jones has won 24 caps for Northern Ireland, scoring once.

Jonah scored his last goal for Crewe against Millwall – his 5th of the season
Londonderry lad Jones will link up with Norn Iron defender Michael Duff and young starlet striker Kyle Lafferty. Lafferty signed a 12 month contract extension last week which will keep him at the club until the summer of 2009. He celebrated by scoring his first goal for Burnley – against Luton Town. He said:
“It is always good to score, but to score at home in front of the Burnley fans was special. I could have had a few on the day, but I am happy with the one. I tried a similar thing in the game against Reading, but today it went in.”

Lafferty has made good progress this season, having spent time on loan at Darlington, and gradually worked his way into Steve Cotterill’s first team plans.
“I think going out on loan has done me the world of good. It has been a great year for me, and I am hoping to come back stronger next season.”

Burnley snap up Jones

29 year old Northern Ireland forward Steve Jones has moved to Burnley after turning down the offer of a new contract at fellow-Championship side Crewe Alexandra. Jones has signed a 3 year deal with the Clarets. Manager Steve Cotterill:
“We are delighted to have agreed a deal for Steve, who I think will be one of the best Bosman signings of the summer.

“He is a great lad who possesses great pace and I feel we could have done with that this season. If so, we could possibly have turned some of the draws into wins. But we cannot look back and instead we look forward to Steve linking up with the rest of the squad when they return for pre-season training.”
Jones has won 24 caps for Northern Ireland, scoring once.

Jonah scored his last goal for Crewe against Millwall – his 5th of the season
Londonderry lad Jones will link up with Norn Iron defender Michael Duff and young starlet striker Kyle Lafferty. Lafferty signed a 12 month contract extension last week which will keep him at the club until the summer of 2009. He celebrated by scoring his first goal for Burnley – against Luton Town. He said:
“It is always good to score, but to score at home in front of the Burnley fans was special. I could have had a few on the day, but I am happy with the one. I tried a similar thing in the game against Reading, but today it went in.”

Lafferty has made good progress this season, having spent time on loan at Darlington, and gradually worked his way into Steve Cotterill’s first team plans.
“I think going out on loan has done me the world of good. It has been a great year for me, and I am hoping to come back stronger next season.”

Mowbray plays down Jones talk

Perhaps unsurprisingly, if he saw THAT miss last night, Hibs boss Tony Mowbray is playing down talk of signing Crewe forward Steve Jones, who is beginning to look like a poor man’s Ivan Sproule. I’m probably being a bit harsh to Jones at the minute, but, yet again, I can’t believe he didn’t score!
The Scotsman:
HIBERNIAN manager Tony Mowbray has played down claims by the Crewe Alexandra striker Steve Jones that he is on the verge of winning a move to Easter Road. While Mowbray says he is aware of the Northern Ireland international and has had him watched, he refutes the suggestion that a deal during the January transfer window is cut and dried.
The Hibs manager said: “I know the player, I know he plays for Crewe and we have seen him play but I would say any suggestion we are going to sign him is just newspaper speculation or possibly agents talking.”
Jones, 28, would be available for around £25,000 because his contract expires in the summer. The player claims he has already spoken to Hibs.
Jones said: “They have made it clear they want to sign me and have invited me to Edinburgh for a family weekend to see what is on offer. I have spoken to Colin Murdock who was with Hibs and he speaks very highly of them. And, of course, there are three other Northern Ireland lads at Easter Road, Ivan Sproule, Dean Shiels and Sammy Morrow. But Preston, Burnley, Derby and Cardiff have all declared an interest. I enjoy playing for Crewe, but the bottom line is they can’t afford to pay much more because they don’t get the crowds. Crewe pay third division wages – and, in fact, there are players in that division getting more than I am. I am 28 and my next contract must be in the best interests of myself and my family.”

McLean completes trio of new faces in squad

More photos of the new boys on the IFA site
Brian McLean of Rangers, currently on loan at Motherwell, is the 3rd new boy in the Northern Ireland squad to face Portugal. On his first call up, he said:
“It is brilliant to be involved. I didn’t expect it as I only played a couple of matches for the Under-21s – and that was a bolt out of the blue at the time. Hopefully I can use this experience with the senior team as a launchpad for the next European Championship. My allegiance now lies with Northern Ireland, not Scotland. I am proud to be a Rangers player but I am loving it with Motherwell,” he said. “I have played right wing and right-back as well as centre-half. It is as a centre-half I am more comfortable.”
David Healy, Aaron Hughes, Chris Baird, Damien Johnson, Roy Carroll and Michael Duff are all injured for the glamour friendly. Duff pulled out today due to an ankle injury, and so 20 year old McLean may well start the match at right back.
Keith Gillespie picked up an injury in training today and is also a doubt – but one man who wouldn’t be shedding any tears if he was is Steve Jones, who thought his time had come for a start back when we all thought Gillespie would be suspended for the match:
“If Keith hadn’t been available I was confident of getting the nod for the wide right berth. I’m convinced that’s the role the manager sees me playing even though I play up front most weeks for Crewe. It’s the position I enjoy most and recently I’ve been getting the goals, three in the last three games.
“I was building up my hopes when I heard Keith would be suspended after being sent off against Malta. There’s nothing personal because Keith is a very good player. It’s just that I badly need a break to show what I can do. “I’ve been around the squad now for something like three years and I am very proud of my 20 caps yet I have only started twice. The first time was against Estonia when I set up the winner for David Healy and the only other occasion was against Germany.”
Jones also reckons he could do a job up front:
“There’s nothing I’d like more than to play alongside Quinny. I believe I’d be the ideal foil. I can see myself cashing in on his head flicks. He’s good at attacking the ball in the air and holding it up.”
Jones made quite an impact when he appeared late in the game against Austria last time out and was denied a goal when his effort was cleared off the line.
The same thing happened when he left the bench against Canada and saw an angled shot bobble and come back off a post.
He sighs: “It’s only in keeping with my luck but I will not give up, neither will I lose my enthusiasm for playing for my country. I love being part of the set-up. I just wish I could get the chance to show what I can do over a full 90 minutes.
The man expected to be given Healy’s place in the starting lineup is Warren Feeney, and he doesn’t really care how much the opposition players are worth:
“I don’t care who I am up against, I play the same way in every game and won’t change that for anyone. I wasn’t worried when I came on against England who had Rio Ferdinand in the team and he cost close to £30 million. Ricardo Carvalho cost Chelsea £20million and he has gone on to win the Premiership with them, but playing against him won’t faze me. When we go out onto the pitch it is 11 v 11 and whoever plays the best will win.
“Every footballer wants to play against the best players and this is a great opportunity for me to do so. There are other players in the squad, like Steve Jones, who will be hoping they can take David Healy’s place. It is up to the manager who he decides to go with and I hope it is me who gets the start.”
The squad in full for tomorrow night:
Maik Taylor (Birmingham City), Michael Ingham (Wrexham), Colin Murdock (Rotherham United), Stephen Craigan (Motherwell), Tony Capaldi (Plymouth Argyle), Michael Duff (Burnley), Gareth McAuley (Lincoln City), Brian McLean (Motherwell), Steve Davis (Aston Villa), Chris Brunt (Sheffield Wednesday), Stuart Elliott (Hull City), Grant McCann (Cheltenham Town), Keith Gillespie (Sheffield United), James Quinn (Peterborough United), Warren Feeney (Luton Town), Steve Jones (Crewe Alexandra), Ivan Sproule (Hibernian), Peter Thompson (Linfield), Dean Shiels (Hibernian)

“Last nite…”

David Healy didn’t let the speculation surrounding his future affect his performance for Preston last night as he scored their equaliser against QPR and then was involved in the winner. Leeds’ latest bid – 600k – was rejected by Preston a few days ago, however surely a move is only a matter of time.
Steve Jones was also on target last night as he scored a consolation for Crewe as they lost 4-1 to Wigan.

Crewe fans show their support for Jones

Crewe Alexandra’s fans have not held back in their support for Steve Jones during his continuing off the field problems, with his premature son Milo still fighting for his life. Now however, they have begun to voice their concerns that the speedy forward is being largely ignored by Crewe boss Dario Gradi. Here is a selection of their comments, taken from the official Alexandra message board:
daz_971: “I normally take a back seat on the message boards and read what you all have to say about our club, but enough is enough!!! Jonah should be one of the first names on the team sheet not sat on the bench. His work rate is outstanding and he’s a man that excites and makes things happen. I find it unbelievable that a player voted fans player of the year is sat on his backside opening game of the season. I know that every manager will have their favourites but you only have to look at the pre-season friendlies to see that Jonah is well up for it.
JONAH YOU GET MY VOTE EVERY TIME”
lukcour: “I personally would say just more evidence that the management has totally lost the plot. The team last year with the near non-existent midfield was a disaster. Looks even worse now. I sincerely hope I am wrong.
Do I sense that the diehard never see anything wrong with Darios style are starting to waver and have their doubts.”
The-Railwayman: “however back to the Jonah sitution and the bit i’m struggling with – Steve has played in most pre-season games and under intence personal pressure has been outstanding now come the big day he maybe on the bench, that takes some explaining believe me.”
indy_b: “I believe the only way of letting DG know how we all feel about the Jonah situation is to show it during the game if he is not played from the start. Lets have more singing from all the fans and from the very beginning let DG know that we want Jonah to play and also show Jonah the true loyal support from our fans. Come on fans make some loud noises!”
Alex all over the World: “No point trying to defend Gradi now by making out it is a considerate caring joint management/player decision. That is what might have happened at other clubs but not this one. Ask JC about Gradi’s management decisions, ask Sodje et all. It wouldn’t be so bad and we’d be able to understand it if Rivers was any good, but he isn’t.”
Interesting reading…

Steve Jones

We often forget that football is only a game. The famous statement by Bill Shankly that football is more important than life or death has often been attacked by those who know better, and in the case of Northern Ireland winger Steve Jones it looks more foolish than ever.
Jones’ premature baby has been fighting for its life for weeks, but the Londonderry man’s character has shone through, and he was singled out for praise by Crewe Alexandra manager Dario Gradi after he played and scored for the the Coca Cola Championship side in a recent friendly victory over Everton:
“He is coping very, very well,” Gradi told the club’s official website.
“At the moment he is sleeping on the floor of his wife’s room in hospital in Liverpool and eating hospital food. That is his life at the moment, so he is doing tremendously well I think.
“He is keeping himself going and whilst you could never wish this situation on anybody, it seems like it is making a man of him. I don’t mean that in a derisory way I just mean to say that he is coming through this situation with flying colours and I have been very impressed with him.”
Gradi had already told the 28 year old that he could train around his family obligations and not to feel obliged to be at training every day, but while Jones didn’t go to the recent training camp at Bisham Abbey, he felt he needed to play against The Toffees.
“I have missed quite a lot of training already and so I really wanted to come and play in this game. To play against Everton was something I needed and to score against my boyhood idols was something special.
“The last few weeks have been very traumatic to say the least, with my baby fighting for his life. But I wanted to come and play and do well for Crewe and this has helped me a lot.”
Our thoughts and prayers are with him at this traumatic time.

Doc / Jones / Sonner

Tommy Doherty will not play any part in the Caribbean Tour. He was meant to fly out after the Second Division Play-Off Final but picked up knock, although according to the BBC website he was on the bench against Barbados..
Northern Ireland winger Steve Jones has taken the Crewe Alexandra Supporters’ Player of the Year award. Hopefully he will start against St. Kitts and Nevis.
If Nottingham Forest don’t give Danny Sonner a new contract he will join either his former club Wallsall, Mansfield Town or Bradford City.