Leeds Take Welsh Winger On Trial

Craig Jones celebrates a Champions League goal against Bohemian

TNS winger Craig Jones is to have a weeks trial with Leeds United. The highly-rated 24-year-old, who can operate on the left or right side, will spend the next seven days at Elland Road, trying to impress manager Simon Grayson and his coaching staff.Jones has scored 45 goals from 195 appearances since entering the top flight of Welsh domestic football from Cymru Alliance outfit Buckley Town in November 2004.His first club was Airbus UK and, after then spending a full season with Aberystwyth Town,he became manager John Hulse's first signing of the 2007 close season for Rhyl. Voted into the Welsh Premier team of the season for the last three years, Jones was also named the Welsh Premier's young player of the year in 2009/10 after moving to The New Saints, where his father Brynley was a player with Oswestry Town, and has been capped several times by the Wales Under-23 semi-pros.Only 10 Welsh Premier players have appeared more times in Europe than Jones, who has featured 14 times in all, scoring against Bohemians and Anderlecht in the Champions League."We are aware that Leeds have been tracking Craig for some time," says TNS managing director Mike Harris."A number of other players could well attract similar interest because, as a top rung club in Wales with success over the past 13 years, we are regularly watched by scouts from clubs in England and, indeed, Europe."TNS is an excellent place for a player to be in the shop window, enjoying life as a full-time professional with a potential stepping stone to greater things."