Kilmarnock star Jordan Jones opens up on failed Rangers bid and ‘mental torture’ of last two transfer windows
The Northern Ireland international had been a target for Gers and he has described it as 'the worst times in his life'
JORDAN JONES has described the last two transfer windows as “mental torture”.
The Kilmarnock winger was the subject of a failed bid from Rangers last season and further interest in the summer — but stayed at Rugby Park.
Jones, 23, is happy with life at Killie but much more experienced players have had their heads turned by the Ibrox giants.
And the Northern Irish cap admitted: “Yes, it does affect you. It is mental torture, really.
“You are getting told a lot of things and trying to concentrate on football but it is draining.
“Through those two transfer windows were two of the worst times in my life.
“But you just have to get back to your football as quickly as possible and let that side of the game take care of itself.”
Jones announced himself on the Scottish and international stages last season with a number of eye-catching performances.
But having earned the plaudits, he no longer has the benefit of being an unknown quantity.
He added: “I definitely feel like a marked man now.
“In most games I have noticed two or maybe even three players on me, but I have to adapt to that and try my best to still affect games.
“How I do that is a good question. I just have to keep going and sometimes in the game you will end up one-v-one and make the most of those moments.
“Steve Clarke says to me to take it as a compliment and keep myself in the game, keep concentrated, because there will be times when I get those one-on-ones.
“We’re third in the league so we are doing all right.
“It’s early in the season and I wasn’t expecting to go back straight away at the levels I was at last year, but I’m sure I’ll get back there.”
Killie are riding high in the table, two points behind second-placed Celtic and a further three off shock early pacesetters Hearts.
Jones admits he hasn’t hit the heights of last season on a personal level but believes Clarke’s troops can strive for a top-four finish.
He said: “We finished fifth last season, which was way above our expectations. I think the minimum will be to finish fifth this season.
“But with the manager we have, I don’t see why we can’t finish in the top four.
“We have Hibs away and then Celtic at home, so that’s two big games coming up.
“Hibs are always very good going forward. They are a team I like playing because you get chances going forward against them. As for Celtic, if you catch them on their day you are in big trouble.
“But if you keep your shape well and play on the counter, like we have done and done really well against them, then hopefully that will happen.
“It’s a really good time for Scottish football as a whole. There are a lot of good managers here, like our gaffer.
“Steven Gerrard has brought a lot of publicity to the game and he has done really well with Rangers so far.
“So it’s a good time to be involved and the game is definitely on the up.”
Jones got a start in Northern Ireland’s friendly victory over Israel on Tuesday night.
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Steven Davis, Stuart Dallas and debutant Gavin Whyte all scored as Michael O’Neill’s troops produced a result to match their impressive performance.
Saturday’s Nations League defeat to Bosnia-Herzegovina was tough to take after dominating the game from start to finish, only for two defensive blunders to cost them dear.
Jones added: “We took the positives from Saturday when we played magnificently. We battered them.
“The main thing is getting the result and it didn’t quite fall for us then. It fell for us on Tuesday and we ended up getting a good win.
“I wasn’t at my best against Israel, though.
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“I was a bit frustrated but it is a learning curve and, as long as I can learn from it, I will go forward.
“I’m new to the squad and I’m still trying to feel my way in. Like I say, I just have to learn from this and go again.”