Jones’s previous top-flight appearance had come on 22 January 2020 and, according to Opta, the near two-year gap is the longest any Red has been forced to wait between games in the competition, other than those who have left the club – Paul Pogba, for example – or gone out on loan, like Tim Fosu-Mensah or David May.
The incredible stat, coupled with Jones’s impressive performance at the back on an otherwise disappointing night, got us thinking about United players from the past who have returned from substantial absences and slotted back in, much to the delight of our fans.