Malta star who battled Wrexham for National League title determined down England

Malta beating England could be the stuff of films. But don’t discuss to Malta striker Jodi Jones simply but about Hollywood endings. The London-born Notts County striker has simply come from a season-long battle with Ryan Reynolds’ Wrexham for supremacy within the National League.

In the top, it took his cameo substitute look to show the play-off semi-final and one other flip round within the ultimate in opposition to Chesterfield to affix the Welsh membership in League Two.

But even scoring in opposition to England in tonight’s Euro 2024 qualifier could be the form of hard-to-believe script that hard-nosed movie producers could be loath to the touch. “We had a good battle with Wrexham to clinch direct promotion to League Two,” Jones mentioned.

“The battle went down to the wire and we ended up winning promotion the hard way but thankfully, we managed to go up. Success injected a lot of confidence in me, no doubt.

“That helps when you face some of the best teams in the world, like it was against Italy and now England. It’s always a massive occasion.

“Playing and living in England, and also supporting England and Malta when I was a child, this is a massive match for me. Honestly, I can’t wait as my family is all here and I am really excited.”

Not least as a result of he would lastly have one thing to put up again on the WhatsApp group of former Coventry gamers who keep in mind when Jones saved the Norwich-bound loanee James Maddison out of the aspect on the finish of the 2015-16 season – and don’t thoughts mentioning their respective profession paths since.

Jones’ personal frustration can largely be defined by three ACL accidents suffered in fast succession whereas nonetheless attempting to determine himself with the East Midlands membership.

But having had a global stage to grace because the finish of final yr when he made his Malta debut, the goals are huge ones as soon as once more.

He added: “Scoring against England would be a crazy feeling. Against Luxembourg, I had a few chances with the goalkeeper denying me with two excellent saves from a free-kick.

“If I have the opportunity of taking a free-kick and manage to score it would be amazing, it would be really perfect.”

“I’ve pictured it loads of times, whether it’ll happen is another thing,” says Jones, who signed a everlasting contract at Notts County final month on the again of their promotion. “I believe in my ability and I know if I get one chance I will take it.”