Curle 'lost trust' in Jones after he pulled out of play-offs but Town boss praises defender for working hard to win it back

Keith Curle admits he 'lost a little bit of trust' in Lloyd Jones after the defender chose not to play for the Cobblers in the League Two play-offs last summer.

The 25-year-old centre-back joined Town on loan from Luton Town in January and played seven matches before the season was suspended due to the pandemic.

Cobblers qualified for the play-offs via a points-per-game method when football returned in June but Jones, still technically on loan at the club, opted not to feature, partly due to the fact his contract at Luton was due to expire the following month.

A proposed move to another club then fell through, however, and Jones returned to Northampton to train before signing a contract in December, admitting at the time that he felt he had something to prove to Curle, as well as himself and Town's supporters.

"He's proving that point, not only to others but to himself as well," said Curle. "I've had some long conversations with Lloyd. He's a player we identified a while ago and we felt he could help us at the football club.

"I was bitterly disappointed that he chose not to stay with us for the play-off campaign. As an ex-footballer, I fully understood the rationale and the reasoning behind his decision, but at the same time, I did lose a little bit of trust.

"You get so close to achieving something and then one of your key components takes another option. I'm not the type of person that will never forgive but I don't forget.

"As a player, there wasn't a problem with Lloyd because the lad's got qualities. But I didn't forget that, when I needed him, he chose another option, so that's been the conversations that I've had with him.

"I said to him 'build that trust up, let me trust you again' and that wasn't just about game-time, that's his demeanour in and around the building and his demeanour in training and in games and that's got to be right because I can't afford to see one weakness in him.

"He's accepted that challenge. If somebody disappoints me, I will let them know - and it only happens once. So Lloyd knows where he stands, but I've got to say, he's been a credit to himself.

"Every day that he's in, he knows that I'm watching him and at the minute, he's enjoying his football and he's enjoying his profession because he knows he's got a point to prove and there's nothing wrong with that."

Jones has started all six league games since he joined the club, helping keep three clean sheets in the process.

"The two goals against Blackpool were disappointing and they both came at a time when there was nothing in the game," Curle added.

"If you look at the other games, Sunderland, Fleetwood, Gillingham, we have looked quite assured and quite solid. We had the blip against Blackpool but the pleasing thing is that the players responded well.

"We know the situation we're in and we know where we need to get to and we know what we need to do to make sure we maintain our status in the league this season."