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When asked to think of the best player under 21 over the month of October, the name Phil Jones may not immediately stand out. But the Squawka performance score does not lie, and Jones has held off the challenge of Manchester United team-mate Adnan Januzaj and Everton’s Romelu Lukaku to take the prestigious crown of Squawka’s Young Player of the Month. Januzaj’s double against Sunderland helps him to second place, whilst Lukaku’s two goals in three games put him third.
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Jones’s defensive displays earned him the points to topple his more attacking challengers. Often a victim of his own versatility, Jones has played all three October games at centre-back. This follows a Manchester United career in which he has both struggled to get into the side and struggled to nail down a set position for himself, having made his name as a centre-back at Blackburn Rovers.
The defender made 46 defensive actions over the course of the month, more than any other player in the Premier League. This was in large part due to the 35 clearances that he made during the three games, including 15 in one game against Sunderland at the beginning of the month.
More than just a solid defender, Jones has also done well with the ball. Ninety two per cent of his passes reached a team-mate over the month, including one chance creating pass, contributing to a possession score of 11. In the game against Sunderland Jones made 95% of his passes – misplacing just two.
Januzaj can count himself unlucky to have missed out on the award, missing out to Jones by a solitary point. The Belgian burst on to the scene with his two goals against Sunderland at the beginning of the month, and has also made six successful take ons in October. Lukaku was comfortably third placed behind the United pair, mainly due to his poor possession score, but has slipped a place in the young player award having been runner up to Ben Davies last month.
