Jodie Jones: Notts County winger proud of 'amazing' record

The former Coventry forward joined the Magpies on a permanent deal last summer after playing a decisive role in their promotion from the National League while on loan from Oxford United - scoring the play-off semi-final winner against Boreham Wood before going on to score in the penalty shootout win in their promotion final against Chesterfield.

As a player whose recent career has been ravaged by injury, getting an uninterrupted run of games and establishing himself at Notts was Jones' main focus this season.

Jones suffered three anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries in less than three years between 2017 and 2020 and has featured in more league games this season than he managed in the preceding five campaigns combined.

With games have come the glut of assists, with his 24 being more than he had managed to provide in his entire career before this term.

After the impact he had on getting Notts promoted, Jones had high hopes on his return to the EFL.

"I set myself the target of winning that award," Jones said. "I wanted to be in the team of the season and wanted to win player of the season.

"With strikers scoring so many goals, they normally get the most recognition, so I knew it would be tough. But I did what strikers do with assists."

His creative touch, combined with 28 goals from league leading scorer Macaulay Langstaff, have helped make Notts among the highest scorers in League One.

But with the worst defensive record in the division, they sit 14th in the table with one game remaining.

"I'm disappointed," Jones said of the season. "It's hard to look at the table now and not see ourselves in the positions we should be."