World Cup 2018: Phil Jones believes England line-up uncertainty is a sign of strength in depth
Jones has hopes of forcing his way into Southgate's preferred back three
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Your support makes all the difference.Phil Jones believes the questions surrounding England’s line-up for their World Cup opener against Tunisia only exist because of the depth of talent at Gareth Southgate’s disposal.
Southgate gave those on the fringes of his starting line-up a chance to impress on Thursday by selecting a host of second-string players against Costa Rica at Elland Road.
Few players harmed their chances of winning a place in Volgograd on 18 June as England ran out comfortable 2-0 winners, with opening scorer Marcus Rashford particularly impressive.
Southgate now has decisions to make on places he claimed were “up for grabs” before Thursday’s win. Jones, who has hopes of forcing his way into the manager’s preferred back three, believes the uncertainty over England’s best XI is healthy.
“That is testament to how good the players are in the England set-up. It leaves you guys guessing and us guys guessing. That is good competition and that is what we need,” he said.
The Manchester United defender added: “Listen, everyone in the 23-man squad wants to play and they have done well enough this season to cement a starting place. But that is the manager’s decision and what will be.
“I am sure whoever will go out in the starting eleven on the 18th against Tunisia will go out and put on a good performance.”
Asked whether he prefers managers to keep their powder dry and name their teams late, Jones said: “Every manager is different – it does not bother me. Everybody prepares in the right way and wants to do well for one another. That’s what we do.”
Jones was playfully heckled from afar by his dad Mark while speaking to journalists outside Elland Road, which led the 26-year-old to pay tribute to his old man for all the support he has offered over the years.
Jones may need parental as well as career advice now though, after his wife Kaya Hall gave birth to a daughter, Alaria, last Thursday.
“Every morning it just gives you a different purpose in life. I know it sounds like a cliché but you don’t realise that until it happens,” he said of the new arrival.
Jones knows it will be difficult to travel to Russia and leave his young family behind, but he remains focused on his role with England and the task at hand.
“[Alaria] is great and my family will always come first but we have got a big tournament to prepare for and my family know all about that,” he said.
“My wife knows – they all know – that this is what I do, this is what I enjoy doing and this is the biggest tournament in the world. I will manage it – I will be fine.”
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