Jones overcomes 897-day injury layoff to lead Notts County to League One promotion

Notts County have secured promotion to League One after defeating Salford City 3-0 in the League Two play-off final at Wembley Stadium. The victory marks the club’s second promotion in four seasons and their 14th in EFL history, falling just short of the all-time record held by Grimsby Town. Winger Jodi Jones was named man of the match, contributing to two first-half goals and scoring the third to seal the win, effectively ending a prolonged period of injury setbacks.

The 28-year-old’s performance concluded a significant personal comeback, having been sidelined for 897 days due to three anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries sustained between November 2017 and August 2021 while at Coventry City. During this period, Jones missed 130 games and went more than five years without starting a league match. He described the victory as one of the best days of his footballing career, noting that he spent over 1,900 days dreaming of such an opportunity.

Jones’ path to Wembley included a penalty in the National League promotion final shootout against Chesterfield in 2023 and an international debut for Malta as a substitute against England in November 2023. His form in the 2024 season saw him named League Two player of the year, where he recorded 24 assists, breaking a record shared by Thierry Henry and Kevin de Bruyne.

Notts County manager Martin Paterson praised the team’s collective effort, highlighting the work of players such as Rod McDonald, Oliver Norburn, Scott Robertson, Nick Tsaroulla, and AJ Alassana Jatta in creating space for Jones. Paterson described Jones as a "magician" and "flair player" who thrived on the framework of hard work provided by his teammates.

Salford City manager Karl Robinson, who previously managed Jones at Oxford United, admitted his side gave the winger too much space to influence the game. Robinson noted that once Jones gained confidence, it became difficult to play against him, particularly regarding the pass that led to the first goal. Jones also predicted that his former clubs Arsenal and Coventry City, along with his current side Notts County, would all achieve glory this season.