New Hawks signing Nico Jones is a ‘unique’ defender who ‘will go right to the top if he wants it’

Boss Paul Doswell has returned to Oxford United to snap up Nico Jones on loan.

Hawks had been keen to sign the highly-rated defender - who only celebrated his 19th birthday two days ago - in December. Instead, they made do with bringing in his U’s colleague Leon Chambers-Parillon on a temporary deal instead.

Jones is a left-footed centre half and gives Hawks an extra defensive option for this weekend’s FA Trophy tie against Notts County.

Following the recent departure of the left-footed Moussa Diarra, Hawks only have Sam Magri and Craig Robson as senior centre halves - though coach Simon Walton can also play there in an emergency.

Magri, though, has been needed at right back with ongoing shoulder issues limiting Benny Read’s appearances.

Jones made his EFL debut for Oxford as a sub at Shrewsbury when he was just 17 in April 2018, shortly after Karl Robinson had taken over at the Kassam Stadium.

He made his first start against Doncaster the following week, completing the 90 minutes, and he also played the whole game in front of over 10,000 supporters at Luton Town.

Jones has not appeared in the EFL since then, but in 2018/19 captained a youthful XI in an EFL Trophy tie against Crawley – - becoming the club’s youngest ever captain, aged 17, as a result

Jones has appeared in all four of Oxford’s EFL Trophy ties this season, with his last competitive appearance on December 8 .

On signing his first pro contract in the summer of 2019, Robinson said of the new Westleigh Park recruit: ‘He will go right to the top if he wants it.

‘But it’s ok me saying he’s going to be this and he’s going to be that – the psychological implications of a young player’s development are sometimes far greater than their actual natural talent.

‘We’ve got to make sure we nurture the kid.

‘We’ve got a lot of work to do (with Nico), because we have the raw ingredients of a unique individual.’

Robinson added: ‘I don’t see in the national team (at the moment) a naturally gifted left-footed centre-half.

‘Where are they? There’s not many of them about.

‘You look in most of the Premier League teams and they have a right-footed player on the left.

‘So automatically you have an advantage and I am so excited.”

This is Jones’ second loan spell in the National League. Last season he was loaned to Oxford City in February, just three weeks before the South season was cut short due to the pandemic.

With a huge doubt over whether this season will carry on following a vote by all 66 member clubs, Jones will be hoping his second loan lasts longer than his first.

Jones is Hawks’ second defensive signing of the week, following the arrival of right-back Aryn Williams, brother of Pompey winger Ryan.