Curle impressed by Jones' 'hunger' after contract offer from another club 'fell through'

Cobblers boss Keith Curle only made the decision to re-sign Lloyd Jones after defender had done enough in training to prove he was still 'hungry' to play for the club.

The 25-year-old centre-back made seven appearances whilst on loan from Luton Town last season before professional football was stopped due to the coronavirus pandemic.

With another club expressing interest in signing him, Jones then made the decision not to play for Northampton in the League Two play-offs to avoid serious injury.

However, that deal then fell through, which meant the former Liverpool youngster was without a club at the end of the summer transfer window. He then was invited to train with the Cobblers in October but had to bide his time before signing a contract until the end of the season.

That deal was confirmed shortly before Tuesday's game against Gillingham. Jones played the full 90 at the PTS as Town ended their four-game losing streak with a 3-1 victory.

"Lloyd has come into the squad and given us a little but more physicality and more competitiveness and also competition for places which is always important," said Curle.

"He's got a hunger about him that I like. Lloyd made a decision last season because he had communication with another football club and he was offered a contract elsewhere.

"He chose not to play in the play-offs last season due to the risk of injury but unfortunately the deal that he had lined up fell through and he became one of those players that was unattached.

"He phoned me and asked if he could train with us. He's been training with us for about two or three months now and he's had to prove to me that he's got the hunger and the desire and the willingness to accept the challenge of coming back to this football club and into the team.

"It hasn't taken two months for that to happen because other things have had to be right for all parties, but he's a very useful addition and I thought he did well on Tuesday. He's brave and he's hungry and has a point to prove."