Manchester United defender Phil Jones is grateful to manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for his support as he battled to recover from knee injury.

Jones has been glowing in his praise for Solskjaer.

Of his arrival, initially as caretaker in December 2018, he told United's club media: "I think it was exactly what we needed at the time, someone who knew the club.

"He knew it inside out, won so many things, so that was important. Until the end of that season, it was just about enjoying playing football again. I think we lost enjoying playing, going onto the pitch on Saturdays, Sundays, Wednesday nights, whenever it was.

"He definitely brought that back, the lads were smiling, the lads were happy. I'm not saying it wasn't like that under Jose at all but I'm saying that different styles, managers have different impacts and yeah, he was great. He's done so well to stamp his authority on the team and get the team to where we are now."

Jones has thanked Solskjaer for his recent words of support.

The former England star, who has not played a first team game since January 2020 because of injury, said: "Yeah, that was really nice. I spoke to him after and said 'thank you for the words', because it meant a lot.

"It really did because there's nothing [that means] more [as] a footballer, for someone, managers, staff, coaches, players, to have your back.

"To feel really supported by him was a nice feeling. At the time, I needed that and it was nice."