Manchester United Starlet Phil Jones 'Almost Steven Gerrard-Like'

Jamie Redknapp believes Manchester United youngster Phil Jones will inevitably cement his burgeoning reputation as a centre-half in the not too distant future, but claims his performance in England's midfield during the 1-0 victory over Sweden was not too dissimilar to Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard in his pomp.

Fabio Capello played the Manchester United defender in central midfield for both England's friendlies against Spain and Sweden, and while he struggled to impose himself in the first game, the aforementioned Sky Sports pundit believes some of Jones' play against Sweden was similar to Liverpool's talismanic star Gerrard.

One marauding run in particular, when the 19-year-old purposefully drove towards Sweden's goal having won the ball on the hallway line, illustrated the Manchester United star's strength and poise, and Redknapp, who was a teammate of Gerrard's during his Liverpool career, believes Jones has a very bright future ahead of him.

"Centre back will be his position," Redknapp said of Jones in the Daily Mail, "But if you have to play him in midfield, put him in the holding role when he can see the game in front of him.

"He looked a different boy to the game against Spain, where he looked lost.

"That was almost Steven Gerrard-like when he drove forward with pace and power. He has a very big future."

Jones signed for Manchester United in the summer from Blackburn for a £17 million fee, having been coveted by the Premier League's elite clubs. Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool were all rumoured to have made overtures to sign the defender, who has been tipped as a future England captain, but a personal intervention from Sir Alex Ferguson convinced Jones that Old Trafford was the best move for his career.

Jones has featured for Manchester United on more occasions than any of his club colleagues thus far this season, playing at right-back, centre-back and in central midfield.