Owain Jones names his dream XI of former teammates and opponents
Aberystwyth Town’s Owain Jones had a star-studded upbringing in the game.
The versatile midfielder, who can also operate in attacking positions, joined his hometown club Swansea City in 2007.
During his time with the Swans, Jones scored an impressive tally of 16 goals in 20 appearances for the U18’s team.
He also had international experience with Wales’ youth sides in European Championship qualification against the likes of Portugal and Belgium, getting on the scoresheet for his country on three occasions.
The Seasider, who signed for the Cymru Premier club this summer from Merthyr Town, lined-up alongside some stars of Welsh football and faced some of the Premier League and Europe’s elite.
Having revealed his team-mates and opponents XI, we put the two sides up against each other:
Team-Mates XI
Embed from Getty ImagesGoalkeeper: Owen Evans
In between the sticks in Owain Jones’ team-mates XI is Welshman Owen Evans.
The Newport-born shot-stopper joined Wigan Athletic from Hereford United in 2014.
Embed from Getty ImagesDuring his six years at the DW Stadium, the goalkeeper has had loan spells at Witton Albion, Rhyl, North Ferriby United, Sutton United, Macclesfield Town and Cheltenham Town.
Evans was a team-mate of Jones’ at international level, having made four caps for Wales U19 and three appearances for Wales U21.
Embed from Getty ImagesRight-Back: Connor Roberts
On the right side of defence is Wales international Connor Roberts.
Since coming through the Swansea ranks, Roberts has cemented his place at the heart of the Swans defence, making 108 league appearances for the club.
Roberts has got himself on the scoresheet on eight occasions for Steve Cooper’s side.
The 25 year-old has also earned 22 caps at international level and looks set to represent Wales at a major tournament in next summer’s European Championship.
Embed from Getty ImagesCentre-Back: Joe Rodon
Another team-mate of Jones’ at Swansea City was Joe Rodon, who has become a big success story for the Swans in recent years.
Having made 52 league appearances at the Championship club, Rodon earned a big move to Premier League high-flyers Tottenham Hotspur.
Since signing for Spurs for £11 million in October, the defender has made four appearances for Jose Mourinho’s side.
Rodon has also impressed at international level of late and was a key part in the side that recently topped their Nations League group.
Embed from Getty ImagesCentre-Back: Kyle Bartley
Completing the centre-back partnership in Owain Jones’ team-mates XI is Kyle Bartley.
The defender spent six years at Swansea City between 2012 and 2018, making 21 appearances for the club.
Bartley left the Liberty Stadium for West Bromwich Albion, where he secured promotion to the Premier League last season.
Embed from Getty ImagesLeft-Back: Neil Taylor
On the left side of defence is Wales defender Neil Taylor.
The St Asaph-born left-back was a great servant to Swansea City during his seven years at the club, making league 160 appearances.
Taylor has made an impression on the international stage during his career, notably scoring Wales’ second goal in the 3-0 win over Russian at Euro 2016.
The defender is now with Premier League side Aston Villa, who he joined from the Swans in 2017.
Embed from Getty ImagesCentral-Midfielder: Josh Sheehan
Part of a midfield trio is Newport County maestro Josh Sheehan.
The 25 year-old came through the ranks at Swansea and during his time at the club, made 21 appearances for Wales’ youth sides.
Sheehan has impressed since his move to Rodney Parade in 2018, earning his first Wales cap in the stalemate with the USA in November.
Embed from Getty ImagesCentral-Midfielder: Leon Britton
Alongside Josh Sheehan in midfield is Swansea City legend Leon Britton.
The midfielder made 436 league appearances over two spells at the Liberty Stadium, going on to become caretaker manager in 2017.
During his time at the club, Britton was named Player of the Year in the 2002-2003 and 2006-2007 seasons.
Now a former professional footballer, Britton last played for Llanelli Town, for whom he made two appearances.
Embed from Getty ImagesCentral-Midfielder: Joe Morrell
Completing the midfield trio in Owain Jones’ team-mates XI is Wales international Joe Morrell.
The Luton Town midfielder came through the ranks at Bristol City, where, during his time with the Robins, was a part of Wales’ youth sides.
Morrell has since made an impression in the international first-team, making 12 appearances and was another key part in Wales’ recent success.
Embed from Getty ImagesRight-Winger: Harry Wilson
On the right side of Jones’ attacking trio is another Wales international in Harry Wilson.
The Wrexham-born winger came through the ranks with Wales’ youth sides in the same period as Owain Jones.
Wilson has since had loan spells from Premier League side Liverpool, impressing at Derby County, before moving on loan to Cardiff City this season.
The playmaker also has 21 Wales caps to his name, scoring four goals, notably a superb free-kick in an away victory over the Republic of Ireland.
Embed from Getty ImagesLeft-Winger: Daniel James
Another team-mate of Jones’ with both Swansea City and Wales was Daniel James.
The winger broke into the Swans’ first-team under Graham Potter, making 33 appearances, before moving to Premier League giants Manchester United.
Since his move to Old Trafford for a reported £15 million fee, James has scored four goals for the Red Devils, whilst also playing a big part in Wales’ route to the European Championship and Nations League success.
Embed from Getty ImagesStriker: Oliver McBurnie
Leading the line in Jones’ team-mates XI is Scottish striker Oliver McBurnie.
The attacker, like Daniel James, made an impression for Swansea City under Graham Potter, scoring 22 goals in 58 games for the club.
His form for the Swans earned him a £17.5 million move to Premier League side Sheffield United, where he has seven goals to his tally.
Opponents XI
Embed from Getty ImagesGoalkeeper: Freddie Woodman
Operating between the sticks in Owain Jones’ opponents XI is Freddie Woodman.
The 23 year-old goalkeeper came through the ranks at Newcastle United and represented England at youth international level.
After loan spells at Harlepool United, Crawley Town, Kilmarnock and Aberdeen, Woodman is now on his second loan spell at Jones’ former club, Swansea City.
Embed from Getty ImagesRight-Back: Ola Aina
At right-back is Ola Aina who progressed through Chelsea’s academy, while gaining experience with England’s youth sides.
Having spent over a decade at Stamford Bridge, the 24 year-old moved to Italian side Torino for a reported fee of £9 million in June 2019.
At the start of this season, Fulham manager Scott Parker bolstered his defensive options as Aina returned to the Premier League on loan.
Embed from Getty ImagesCentre-Back: Fikayo Tomori
Another player who came through the ranks at Chelsea makes Owain Jones’ opponents XI, as Fikayo Tomori slots in at centre-back.
Despite being born in Canada, Tomori represented England at youth level, and made his full international debut in November 2019.
The defender also made 15 Premier League appearances for Frank Lampard’s Chelsea last season, notably scoring a terrific strike from distance against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Embed from Getty ImagesCentre-Back: Jason Denayer
Partnering Fikayo Tomori at the back is former Manchester City defender Jason Denayer.
After loan spells at Celtic, Galatasaray and Sunderland, the centre-back left the Etihad Stadium for French side Lyon in 2018.
At international level, the Jette-born defender represented Belgium at U19 and U21 level and was part of the Belgian first team that were defeated by Wales in the quarter-finals at Euro 2016.
Embed from Getty ImagesLeft-Back: Jay Dasilva
On the left side of defence is Jay Dasilva, who has 63 caps at youth international level with England to his name.
Dasilva, like Aina and Tomori, came through Chelsea’s academy and is a three time FA Youth Cup winner.
Having had two loan spells at Charlton Athletic, the defender made his loan spell at Bristol City permanent in 2019 and has since made 33 league appearances for the Championship club.
Embed from Getty ImagesCentral-Midfielder: Renato Sanches
In a strong midfield trio, Renato Sanches slots into Owain Jones’ opponents XI.
Jones faced the midfielder at international level, with Sanches representing Portugal’s youth sides.
Sanches then burst onto the scene at Euro 2016, winning the tournament with Portugal, picking up the lucrative Golden Boy award and signing for European giants Bayern Munich.
Since then, the midfielder had an unsuccessful loan spell at Swansea City, before rebuilding his career at French side Lille.
Embed from Getty ImagesCentral-Midfielder: Ruben Loftus-Cheek
Next in midfield is another product of Chelsea’s academy, Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
The box-to-box midfielder has been at Chelsea since 2004 and has represented England at both youth and full international level.
The 24 year-old, who was part of England’s 2018 World Cup squad, is currently on loan at Premier League side Fulham.
Embed from Getty ImagesCentral-Midfielder: Mason Mount
Completing the opponents XI midfield is Chelsea maestro Mason Mount.
Mount, who is a two-time FA Youth Cup winner and U19 European Championship winner, has broken into the Chelsea first-team in the last two seasons.
The midfielder now has 50 league appearances under Frank Lampard, while earning 13 full international caps.
Embed from Getty ImagesRight-Winger: Samu Castillejo
Barcelona-born winger Samu Castillejo slots in on the right flank for Jones’ opponents XI.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Spaniard spent most of his academy life at Málaga, where he represented his national team at youth level.
Since then, the exciting winger spent three years at Villarreal, before signing for Italian giants AC Milan in 2018.
Embed from Getty ImagesLeft-Winger: Gelson Martins
Operating on the left-wing is Portuguese winger Gelson Martins.
Despite being born in Cape Verde, Martins made an impression for Portugal’s youth sides and has since made 21 full international appearances.
Having had spells at Sporting Lisbon and Atlético Madrid, the 25 year-old now plies his trade with French side Monaco.
Embed from Getty ImagesStriker: Serge Gnabry
Up front for Owain Jones’ opponents XI is German winger Serge Gnabry.
Gnabry showed early promise during his time at Arsenal and for Germany’s youth sides, before having an infamous unsuccessful loan spell at Tony Pulis’ West Bromwich Albion.
Having returned to Germany, Gnabry is now at the peak of his powers with Champions League winners Bayern Munich, where he has become of the most dangerous wingers in Europe.
(Featured Image: Colin Ewart)
