The Manchester United signing has had a varied season, but he has left fans with more questions than answers.
When Manchester United signed Jones for £16 million last summer, it was with a long-term view that he would be a central defender for the club for the next generation.
Yet his performances in his debut season in that position were seriously underwhelming.
Even with Nemanja Vidic injured, he failed to stake a worthy claim to play in the position.
In fact his best performances, many argue, came at right-back, although even there many are unconvinced.
Sir Alex Ferguson elected to play him there rather than Rafael in the Manchester derby, but he was unable to prevent the side slipping to defeat. With United expected to strengthen in the right-back position this summer, his future there does not look assured.
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What went wrong for him at centre-back? Simply put, he failed to gel with Rio Ferdinand early on when they played together, and it all went downhill from there.
His much-vaunted partnership with Chris Smalling from the under-21s was never given a chance to blossom, and Jonny Evans’ re-emergence further limited his opportunities.
A home was found for him in midfield, he started there at Anfield in United’s 1-1 draw with Liverpool, and was also selected there for England against Spain.
It was not a new experiment, the position was one he played in frequently for Blackburn Rovers, but again whether his long-term future lies there is open to interpretation.
What he offers United is youth and energy, which compliments the more strained older legs of Ryan Giggs or Paul Scholes.
In his opening season in the Premier League and the Champions League, Jones made 29 starts. Of these 14 came at right-back, nine in central defence, and six in central midfield.
With Vidic due to return next season, and Ferdinand due a summer of rest after his Euro 2012 omission. Jones will have to be patient for more chances at centre-back.
Even though he did not do himself justice there last season, this is where I believe his long-term future lies.
Right now, he is even behind Jonny Evans and on even ground with Chris Smalling, making him fourth or fifth choice.
He is too useful a player to United to simply warm the bench, so he will find himself being deployed at right-back at times and in central midfield, mainly over the next one to two seasons.
During this time he will have to seize any chances at centre-back which he is offered, his time will come there, but Jones will have to bide his time until either Ferdinand or Vidic move on.
What do you think Phil Jones’ best position is?
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