Jones in rush to impress

ATTACKING INSTINCT . . . Daniel Jones makes one of several eye-catching runs at Edgeley Park.

NEW signing Daniel Jones has tipped Athletic to find an instant response to their first league defeat of the season.

Friday night’s letdown at Stockport ended the club’s longest unbeaten start for 18 years, but Jones saw enough on his debut to predict good times ahead.

The 21-year-old left-back was among Athletic’s top performers, even though his loan move was completed by fax less than four hours before kick-off.

He drove straight from the Midlands to Edgeley Park and, clad in his Wolves tracksuit, met his team-mates in the dressing room.

Jones proceeded to look confident on the ball during Athletic’s 3-1 defeat and also made eye-catching runs in support of midfield and attack.

He won praise from manager John Sheridan and believes his initial one-month spell at Boundary Park will be busy but satisfying.

Jones said: “At the moment I’m here until the start of November, but hopefully it will last longer because I love to play football.

“I haven’t been getting many games at Wolves, but Oldham have quite a few in the next month and I’m really looking forward to it.

“I was really up for my debut and I enjoyed the experience. It was just a shame about the result.

“We cruised the first half and Stockport weren’t in the game at all, but then we had lapses in concentration so the goals we conceded were disappointing.

“It wasn’t the best of starts, but there are some great players at the club and I’m sure we can bounce back.

“You’ve got full internationals in Neal Eardley and Craig Davies, then people like Lee Hughes and Sean Gregan who will come back into the side with their experience.”

Jones made his league debut three and a half years ago, but his chances at Wolves have been limited by a powerful squad.

Most of his first-team football came last season when he had eight months on loan at Northampton and appeared in their two wins against Athletic.

He also impressed John Sheridan, who approached his Wolves counterpart, Mick McCarthy, as Athletic are short of defensive cover.

Jones – primarily a full-back but no stranger to midfield – admitted the speed of his transfer came as a surprise.

He revealed: “I trained with Wolves on Friday morning and went to get changed thinking I was travelling with the squad down to Swansea.

“Mick McCarthy asked if I fancied coming to Oldham and I jumped at the chance, especially with them doing so well.

“He said Oldham get the ball down, play some good football and just told me to come here and do what I do.

“I like to get forward and take a few set pieces, so it’s all about playing games and enjoying myself.

“I felt a bit stupid turning up for my first game in a Wolves tracksuit, but there was nothing else I could do.

“It all happened quickly and I hadn’t played for three weeks, but my fitness won’t take long.”

Jones formed a promising left-sided alliance with Chris Taylor – a player whose form this season is attracting widespread attention.

He added: “Chris has been getting rave reviews and, from my first impressions of him, I’d say he’s sharp and has good touch and awareness.

“He has an eye for goal and goes past defenders, so hopefully we’ll build a good understanding.”