The former Middlesbrough winger has a chance to move to Barnsley last year.
Kilmarnock’s Jordan Jones has explained why he didn’t end up at Barnsley after leaving Middlesbrough last year.
The newly called-up Northern Ireland international has impressed since moving north of the border, and was linked with a move to Championship sides Cardiff City, Norwich City, Preston North End and Fulham last month.
But Jones could have already been playing in England’s second tier, had Barnsley shown a little more faith.
“I went to Barnsley and did really well in a trial game. But they were saying I’d be more of a squad player. They couldn’t guarantee me games,” the winger told the Scottish Sun.
Luckily, another north east native came to Jones’ rescue, and helped him to quickly get over his “heartbreaking” Middlesbrough exit.
“I’ll always be grateful to Lee (Clark, his former manager) and Kilmarnock for the opportunity I was given,” he added. “When Lee said he wanted me I wasn’t interested in speaking to another club – just as long as I knew I had something there.
“Lee made it clear he really wanted me and I’d get my chance. I went to Notts County and scored in a bounce game but my mind was made up it would be Kilmarnock. “After the game I came up and signed. The rest is history.”
After losing Ryan Kent and Marley Watkins in the summer, Barnsley could have perhaps done with another option out wide, where they only managed to add Lloyd Isgrove, a former Oakwell loanee, from Southampton.
Jones, who only made one senior appearance for Middlesbrough, has played 56 times for Kilmarnock – scoring four goals and assisting another 10.
Should Barnsley regret not giving Jones a chance at Oakwell last season?
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