“If they ring me up, there is not a single ounce of my being that wouldn’t recommend Lloyd Jones to play for my country.”
Nathan Jones has no doubts.
He would have a transparent message for Wales supervisor Craig Bellamy and his assistant Andrew Crofts in the event that they enquired in regards to the suitability of his centre-back for a global call-up.
“Comfortably he’s good enough,” insists the Welsh Charlton boss. “Categorically, I would not think twice about recommending him.”
He shares that emphatic endorsement to Sky Sports activities simply days after Wales’ World Cup dream ended with a painful play-off defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
It additionally comes within the context of an outstanding season Lloyd is having fun with within the Championship with Charlton.
The standard of his marketing campaign is underlined by the actual fact Charlton supporters have voted for the towering defender to be named because the membership’s participant of the month for the fifth month in a row.
Lloyd Jones’ stats within the Championship this season
The 30-year-old represented each Wales and England in youth soccer and qualifies for Wales by means of his father. “It would be a real honour to represent and play international football,” he tells Sky Sports activities himself. However his focus proper now, understandably, is on sealing Charlton’s second-tier standing.
The Joneses performed instrumental roles within the membership’s ascent final season from League One and, whereas there have been troublesome moments throughout this primary season again at Championship stage, the Addicks are effectively positioned to determine a foothold within the division.
With seven video games to play, they sit 18th within the desk, 9 factors above the relegation zone.
“It would be a big thing for us, staying up,” says Lloyd. “But I don’t want to set my career up to just be staying in the league. I don’t want to just take part.”
Charlton boss Nathan Jones has praised his namesake’s performances
It’s that ambition and drive that makes him an vital participant for his supervisor. Nathan first labored with Lloyd when he signed him at Luton City in 2018. Again then, Lloyd was a younger participant discovering his method within the recreation after leaving Liverpool.
Once they reunited at Charlton in 2023, he was the chief Nathan wanted in his backline.
“I love working with Lloyd,” says Nathan. “I signed Lloyd at Luton and he wasn’t the player he is today.
“The expertise and the power had been there however the all-round bundle wasn’t. Then after I got here again [to work with him at Charlton] you could possibly see a distinct maturity and that is simply grown.
“He plays with confidence, he plays with the trust of the manager. We demand certain stuff from him and don’t let him rest on his laurels. We expect big things from him and we set up for his strengths. He’s been magnificent.”
Lloyd helped Charlton file a club-record 23 clear sheets final season in League One. Whereas it has been a step up this time period, the 6ft 3in defender tops the Championship metrics for clearances and aerial duels received, highlighting his combative strategy.
Lloyd Jones wins a header – he has received extra aerial duels than any participant within the Championship
They’re eye-catching statistics for a participant getting a full-on style of the Championship for the primary time.
After Luton, there have been spells in League One with Northampton City and Cambridge United. However now Lloyd is enjoying the perfect soccer of his profession – and he locations loads of credit score for his private improvement all the way down to his present Charlton boss.
“If I need a kick up the backside, he’ll give me that,” laughs Lloyd when requested about his relationship with Nathan. “He’s good with the way he praises me. I’d say a bit more on the tough love side, but I think he’s brilliant.
“Once I signed for him [at Luton] I wasn’t in the identical headspace as I’m now.
“I went into a winning side, I didn’t play as much as I wanted to. My mentality was a little bit different then, but I think this time around, I love playing for him. I know I want to do well for him.
“Once I’m a bit drained on the market, you generally do it for him as effectively. I feel a variety of the crew will really feel like that. He is a giant half in how my profession took off within the final two or three years.
Monday sixth April 2:45pm
Kick off 3:00pm
“Yes, I’ve always had inner confidence. I’ve been unlucky with injuries in my early career and also not being an absolute angel.
“However I feel most likely within the final 4 or 5 years, I realised what I needed, and that is soccer. I really like enjoying on a Saturday and profitable three factors.”
It is a Friday-Monday schedule for Charlton this Easter weekend. Bristol Metropolis and Watford could have the problem of maintaining with the Joneses.
It is a player-manager mixture which has delivered dividends for each of them and Charlton too. And maybe, sooner or later, for Wales…
