Phil Jones has revealed he had to train alone when recovering from mild thrombosis to avoid any contact that might have made the condition spread dangerously.
The defender discovered the issue just before Manchester United’s opening-day victory over Tottenham Hotspur. Jones is now back playing, having featured in United’s last two matches as a replacement.
Yet his recuperation had to be undergone alone to ensure he did not receive a knock to the calf where the blood clot was located as this could be dangerous.
Jones said: “It was something that was completely out of control. It wasn’t a tackle or something stupid, it was just one of those things. I came off the [summer] tour and felt a tightness in my calves and had a scan on it and found a blood clot in my leg.
“There is not much you can do. I was still fit and still mobile about the house and that was the frustrating thing, still walking around and trying to train and be fit. But I couldn’t join in with the lads, because if you get contact it can travel up your leg and then you are in trouble. So it’s very frustrating but it’s just one of them things. It was totally out of control.”
Jones featured in last week’s Capital One Cup win over Ipswich Town and Saturday’s 3-0 Premier League victory against Sunderland. “I am just buzzing to be back now and happy to be back in the fold,” he said. “I got 20 minutes the other night, the same [on Saturday] and hopefully I can integrate my way back into the team.”
Jones knows he faces a challenge to dislodge Chris Smalling and Daley Blind, as the first-choice centre-backs have impressed so far. “Yeah definitely. They have done terrific this season, both of them,” he said. “I am pleased we are top of the league now and it is a great start for us this season and hopefully we can carry it on and maintain our good form.
“I think that is what everyone has to do. Everyone has to push on and progress. All the players have stepped up to the plate really well. We are in a good vein of form. Hopefully we can continue.”
United lead Manchester City by a point. Can they stay there? “Yeah, course we can. We have a great squad, loads of talented players. There is no reason why we can’t win the league,” said Jones, before pointing to the need to defeat Wolfsburg in the Champions League after losing at PSV Eindhoven in the opening group game.
“But I think that is a step too far at the moment in terms of short goals and we are concentrating on Wednesday night now and making sure we get a positive result on Wednesday. It was a difficult first game against PSV.”
