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Derry delight at Jones' desire

Image: Gary Jones: Still has the requisite desire to play

Notts County boss Shaun Derry has hailed the desire of veteran midfielder Gary Jones.

Jones played in Friday night's 1-1 draw at Sheffield United, despite having received a red card in the Magpies' previous match against Yeovil. The 37-year-old had been harshly sent off during the 2-1 home defeat to the Glovers - a moment that Derry admitted had left the player devastated. But the club appealed referee Stuart Attwell's decision, won their case and Jones was able to keep his place in the starting line-up and help Notts grind out a well-earned point at Bramall Lane. "When I gave him the call to say the red card had been rescinded, it was like speaking to a 16-year-old," said Derry. "The excitement you could tell on the other end of the phone - he was eager to come into training because he knew he had the possibility of a game at the end of the week. "You're talking about a 37-year-old who has played the best part of 600-700 league games. To still have that keenness and desire to play a game of football, then he has to be in the team." Meanwhile, Derry was pleased to have both on-loan defender Louis Laing and player-coach Alan Smith back in the matchday squad after the pair finally recovered from leg injuries. Although the Magpies manager was keen to stress he purposefully did not rush them back. He said: "Louis has missed a fair chunk of games and we have had to work very closely with Nottingham Forest. "The communication lines between us and them worked a treat and we got him back earlier than we thought and he was on the bench ready to play. "The same with Alan. He has had a niggle with his calf. I don't want to take risks with players that aren't right. "It was absolutely my fault with Hayden Mullins. I wanted him back, I rushed him back myself. Hayden, the player he is, wanted to come back a little earlier than the medics said. Unfortunately he is now out for another three to four weeks. It was part of a learning curve for me and I have to take it on the chin."

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