Jones left for taste of high life

Phil Jones was part of the Blackburn barrier that has proved so difficult for Manchester United to knock down over the years — but it is the memory of the Red Devils’ title celebrations at Ewood Park that persuaded the defender to switch clubs.

Jones was only a raw teenager when he made his first appearance against Alex Ferguson’s men, a goalless draw in 2010 that effectively ended any hope United had of overhauling Chelsea for the championship.

The same outcome last term had totally different consequences as a late Wayne Rooney equaliser proved enough to clinch that record 19th championship.