Steve Bruce has revealed that Graeme Jones has earned himself a well-deserved break and will link up with the NUFC squad in “two or three weeks’ time.”
The Toon setup are currently training in York ahead oir preseason schedule and Jones is less than 48 hours on from England’s devastating penalty shoot-out defeat to Italy in the Euro 2020 final.
Bruce has confirmed he’s been in regular contact with the Gateshead lad throughout the Three Lions’ campaign, while the club are plunged into uncertainty with the ongoing takeover saga still rumbling in the background.
Our manager drew comparisons to England’s loss with moments in his own career, which include a heartbreaking FA Cup defeat to Arsenal as Hull City boss despite being 2-0 up after eight minutes.
Here is what he told NUFC TV:
“I have spoken to him (Graeme Jones) regularly over the last two or three weeks in particular.
“(I’m) delighted for him to be given the opportunity.
“Of course, going so close (England), when you get that far, like we all do and I have been on it many times, where you lose at Wembley in whatever final, it’s not nice.
“He’ll need a break and rightly so.
“So he will join us in two or three weeks’ time, refresh himself and dust himself down.
“He’s played a big part.”
It remains unclear whether Jones will continue in his role as Gareth Southgate’s first-team coach beyond his exploits this summer.
England conceded just twice and didn’t lose a game – penalties aside – in the nine matches he was part of the setup.
Toon fans have praised Jones for the work he done in saving our season since his arrival back in January; many will feel a sense of vindication after the Three Lions heroics in the Euros.
