Jones: reasons for optimism

Mike Jones: expected to return to the Athletic starting line-up tomorrow.

Raring to go at Sheffield United tomorrow, newly-fit Mike Jones says Athletic’s players need to keep the faith to pull out of their slump.

The 28 year old, reigning Chronicle Star Man award winner and the players’ player of the season for 2014-15, pointed to the return of target man Jake Cassidy as a reason for optimism.

Last season’s top scorer Jonathan Forte is another big-impact player Athletic can look forward to having back soon, Jones argued.

With so much of the season left, the Birkenhead-born star says there is good reason for hope.

“Results are disappointing and there is no getting away from that — but there is a long way to go and I would be more worried if I was looking around not feeling the quality was there,” said Jones, who has not played for six weeks with an ankle injury.

“Hopefully, we will pick it up. Everyone is disappointed and we all just need to get together and get out of this run.

“There is a lot of quality in the club and we have to stick together and keep believing in the things we are doing in training every day.”

Jones will start the FA Cup second round tie at Bramall Lane tomorrow, after sitting through the last two defeats as an unused substitute.

Manager David Dunn is banking on his drive from midfield to help spur on the team to claim a place in Monday night’s third-round draw.

Former Bury man Jones reckons some pressure may have been lifted from the players’ shoulders simply by having a break from the league run.

“It probably gives us a bit of freedom to go out and play as the underdogs over there,” he added.

“We have to go and enjoy it and hopefully, get back to what made us so good at one point.”