Bangor City’s Henry Jones should be regarded as favourite to win the Welsh Premier League’s Young Player of the Season award writes Matthew Burgess.
The 23-year-old midfielder was named as one of three nominees to win the annual award earlier this week along with Bala Town’s Anthony Stephens and Llandudno’s James Joyce.
James Joyce, 22, is the youngest of the trio and caught my attention earlier this season before injury brought his year to a premature end.
Joyce is an exciting attacking left-back who was then given a more advanced wide role by manager Alan Morgan after the mid-season arrival of Sam Hart from Bangor.
Anthony Stephens capped off his fine season with Bala Town with a Welsh Cup victory and the versatile Liverpudlian has been one of the Lakesiders’ most reliable performers.
Stephens, 23, has featured in central defence and left back before settling in a central midfield role which looks to have seen him produce his best football.
But it’s Henry Jones who I feel is most deserving of the award.
Jones’ arrival from Swansea City at the start of the season was something of a surprise and he quickly established himself as one of – if not the – Welsh Premier League’s best talents.
Jones has notched 10 goals from his 27 WPL appearances this season and his performances have not gone unnoticed by Football League clubs with MK Dons amongst those believed to be monitoring his progress.
Bangor recognise they will have a fight on their hands to tie Jones down to another season at Nantporth although City’s hand will be strengthened by their decision to turn full-time professional this summer.
The league are yet to announce the candidates for the full Player of the Season award but I would not be surprised to see Henry Jones’ name once again mentioned.
No player has previously won both awards in the same season before but if nominated, I believe Henry Jones could have a strong claim for both titles.
It would be a fitting end to Jones’ brief but successful Welsh Premier League career should he indeed decide to move on to pastures new at the end of this season.
