Jones, 31, played five times in the second half of last campaign under Ralf Rangnick,
acquitting himself well, and spent his holidays doing physical work to get in the best shape possible for pre-season under a new manager. But he suffered a relapse of his long-standing knee issue on the first day of training with his team-mates, which caused him serious distress, according to one source close to the squad, who will remain anonymous to protect relationships. Much to his deep frustration, he has been unable to get fit since.
Jones has tried various specialists over the years, undergoing a procedure in 2020 that appeared to have helped, but the problem has persisted. He was not named in United’s squad for Premier League or
Europa League competitions this season.
His contract expires at the end of the season and although United have the option to extend, they are not expected to do so.