“If they were to call me, there wouldn’t be a moment where I wouldn’t recommend Lloyd Jones to play for my country.”
Nathan Jones has no doubts.
He will send a clear message to Wales manager Craig Bellamy and his assistant Andrew Croft when they ask whether the centre-back can feature for his country.
“Comfortably he is good enough,” insists the Welsh manager Charlton. “To be clear, I wouldn’t think twice about recommending him.”
He shares this strong endorsement: sky sports It came just days after Wales’ World Cup dreams ended with a painful play-off defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
It also comes in the context of the best season Lloyd is enjoying in the Championship with Charlton.
The quality of his campaign is underlined by the fact that Charlton supporters voted to select the towering defender as the club’s Player of the Month. fifth One month in a row.
Lloyd Jones’ statistics in the Championship this season
The 30-year-old has represented both Wales and England in youth football and qualified for the Wales national team through his father. “It would be a real honor to represent and play international football,” he said. sky sports himself. But his focus now is understandably on sealing Charlton’s second-tier status.
The Joneses played a key role in the club’s rise from League One last season and although there have been some difficult moments during this first season back at Championship level, the Addicks are well placed to gain a foothold in the division.
With seven games remaining, they sit in 18th place, nine points above the relegation zone.
“It’s going to be a big deal for us to stay awake,” Lloyd says. “But I don’t want to set my career up just to stay in the league. I don’t want to just participate.”
Charlton manager Nathan Jones praised his namesake’s performance.
It’s that ambition and drive that makes him such an important player for the manager. Nathan first worked with Lloyd when he signed from Luton Town in 2018. At the time, Lloyd was a young player finding his way in the game after leaving Liverpool.
He was a much-needed leader in Nathan’s backline when they reunited at Charlton in 2023.
“I love working with Lloyd,” says Nathan. “I signed Lloyd from Luton and he wasn’t the player he is now.
“The talent and ability was there but he didn’t have the all-round package. Then when he came back (to work with him at Charlton) you could see a different maturity and it just grew.
“He plays with confidence. He plays with the trust of the manager. We demand certain things from him and don’t let him rest on his laurels. We expect big things from him and play to his strengths. He’s been great.”
Lloyd helped Charlton keep a club record 23 clean sheets in League One last season. Although he has gone a step further this season, the 6ft 3in defender is tops in the championship metrics for clearances and aerial duels won, highlighting his combative approach.
Lloyd Jones won the header. He has won more aerial duels than any other player in the Championship.
These are eye-catching statistics for a player experiencing his first real taste of a championship.
After Luton there were spells in League One with Northampton Town and Cambridge United. But now Lloyd is playing the best football of his career. And he gives a lot of credit to his current boss at Charlton for his personal development.
When asked about his relationship with Nathan, Lloyd laughed: “If I needed a stab in the back, he would give it to me.” “He’s good at the way he compliments me. I wish I could say more about the tough love aspect, but I think he’s outstanding.
“When I signed him (at Luton) I wasn’t in the same headspace I am now.
“I was on the winning side, and I didn’t play as well as I wanted to. My mentality was a little different then, but I think this time I like playing for him. I know I want to do well for him, too.”
“I do it for him sometimes when I’m a little tired out there. I think a lot of people on the team feel that way. He’s played a big part in how my career has progressed over the last two or three years.”
Monday, April 6, 2:45 p.m.
Kickoff at 3pm
“Yes, I have always had inner confidence. I was unlucky with injuries early in my career and was not a complete angel.
“But probably over the last four or five years I’ve realized what I want and that’s football. I like playing on Saturdays and getting three points.”
Here’s Charlton’s schedule for Friday-Monday this Easter weekend. Bristol City and Watford will face the challenge of keeping up with Jones.
This is a player-manager combination that has delivered dividends for both players and Charlton. And perhaps for Wales in the future…
