Three ACL injuries later - how Notts County's Jones lit up Wembley

"It was an outstanding performance. He really did have his moment."

"Jodi Jones, what a performance."

When it came to man-of-the-match candidates in the League Two play-off final between Notts County and Salford City, there was only one winner for Gillingham boss Gareth Ainsworth and Bromley counterpart Andy Woodman.

Jones stole the show with a virtuoso display at Wembley, playing a part in Notts' two first-half goals before adding the promotion-sealing third in a 3-0 victory.

A player who once went more than five years without starting a league game during the darkness of an injury-plagued past, Jones has now helped Notts to two promotions in four seasons.

The 28-year-old winger revealed he is back to enjoying his football on a stage he can shine on.

"I'm over the moon," Jones told BBC Sport, as he revealed an incredible prediction that his first club, Arsenal, former club Coventry and current side Notts County would all enjoy glory this season.

"I buzz off moments like this where I know I can express myself on a fantastic pitch like this.

"I'd like to say I'm a big game player and I thrive off opportunities where I can step up and be that brave person that tries to create for our team, score goals and get assists.

"Today was something else, one of the best days in my footballing career."

Three anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) knee operations meant Jones was sidelined for a total of 897 days during a spell at Coventry, which meant missing 130 games, between November 2017 and August 2021.

He went more than five years between starting league matches, from the day he was first hurt playing for the Sky Blues in League Two, to featuring for Notts County in the National League after being sent out on loan by Oxford United in January 2023.

Jones said he spent 1,900-odd days dreaming about having days like Monday, and admitted, while holding the play-off final trophy: "You're making me a bit emotional.

"Tough times, I can only thank my family and Coventry for sticking by me and giving me contract after contract when I could have been down and out.

"They helped me, they stuck by me, whether they thought I would play for them again or not, they thought it was right to help me and give me another contract.

"I can never ever forget about Coventry, a fantastic club, who I now support, and I am buzzing that they went up this season too.

"Those days were hard. My family really stuck by me, and the fans. I am back playing football and enjoying myself, that's the main thing."

Jones' performance wrote another chapter in his Wembley story, which started when he helped Coventry win the EFL Trophy in 2017 and being on their books when they won the League Two play-offs in 2018.

His previous visit for Notts involved him scoring a penalty in the National League promotion final shootout against Chesterfield in 2023.

He followed that up by representing Malta as a substitute against England in November 2023 before going on to be named League Two player of the year in 2024 after breaking a record shared by Thierry Henry and Kevin de Bruyne with 24 assists.

"I'd like to think there's another chapter at Wembley coming for me," said Jones. "I haven't lost with a club. I'd like to think Wembley is a good place for me."

County's promotion was their 14th in EFL history, one short of the all-time record held by Grimsby Town, and Jones says there is no reason why they cannot be optimistic about the future.

"My godfather said to me when I went to Notts, 'I really believe you can do something similar to what you did at Coventry and go up the leagues. Notts seem like the sort of club who would do something like that, they are a massive club'," said Jones.

"It wasn't that long ago that I was a Coventry City player and we got promoted against Notts in the play-offs. I hope they have forgiven me for that.

"Who knows where we can go. We are a fantastic club and I'm sure we'll attract a lot of talent who will want to come and join us."

As for it being a third major success among his significant clubs, Jones said he spoke about Arsenal, Coventry and Notts County having fruitful campaigns in a family group chat at the start of the season, saying it "would be amazing".

"And it's happened, fantastic."

Magpies boss Martin Paterson was glowing in his praise of Jones' display - but he also highlighted the work of others within the team for helping the wide man sparkle.

"He has just got that individual quality, hasn't he, with goals, nutmegs," Paterson told BBC Sport. "He is a magician and flair player.

"I hope he enjoys the man-of-the-match performance, and enjoys it with his family and team-mates, because what people don't see is the work that others do for him to shine.

"That is just as important to me – Rod McDonald, Oliver Norburn, Scott Robertson, Nick Tsaroulla, I could go on with AJ [Alassana Jatta] running, defending, scoring goals. It's a team effort and I don't want to single anyone out.

"From the hard work and framework of a team comes individuals and freedom. And that is what individuals did today - they seized their moments off the backbone of hard work."

Salford boss Karl Robinson was in charge of Oxford when Jones was allowed to join Notts on loan in January 2023 and added: "Jodi Jones played for me and I pushed him to Notts County as well, that is the disappointing thing for me.

"We let him get into the game and once Jodi Jones gets into the game he flows and it's hard to play against him because you give him the confidence to do that.

"I just felt we gave him the space to find that pass for that first goal."