Jermaine Jones has secured a six-month loan with English Premier League club Blackburn Rovers, the club announced today on their web site. The 29-year-old had been linked with a permanent move to Ewood Park, but out of favor with Felix Magath at Bundesliga side Schalke 04, the United States international will get a chance to reestablish himself in Lancashire.
Schalke, USMNT Midfielder Jermaine Jones Finalizes Loan Deal With Blackburn Rovers
The acquisition comes at a time of need for Blackburn, the club having to give 19-year-old trainee Jason Lowe a debut this weekend at Stamford Bridge after starting central midfielder David Dunn was injured. That lack of depth combined with the evaluation of manager Steve Kean should see Jones immediately competing for a spot in Blackburn's XI:
Manager Steve Kean was delighted with the addition of Jones: “He’s a fantastic signing for us.
”Anybody who knows him as a player, he’s a natural ball winner, he’s a very good passer as well.
“He’s got a fantastic engine, he can go box-to-box, he’s a genuine all round midfield player.”
Jones has been with Schalke since joining the Gelsenkirchen club in 2007, leaving his hometown team, Eintracht Frankfurt. In 70 league matches, Jones has totaled five goals, one coming amidst this year’s 10 appearances. Of late, Jones has lost his place in Magath’s starting lineup, relegated to training outside the first team, precipitating this move.
Jones made his debut with the United States in late 2010. On October 9, 2010, Jones was in Bob Bradley’s starting lineup when the United States faced Poland.
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