MIDDLESBROUGH winger Isaiah Jones admitted that a switch to the North-East back in was the best move he could have made for his career after a series of unsuccessful attempts to make it professional in his native London.

Jones completed the switch to Boro three years ago in the summer of 2019 from non-league side Tooting and Mitcham. After a loan spell with Scottish sides St Johnstone and Queen of the South, Jones broke into the Boro first-team last season and played a starring role at right wing-back as they went on to finish seventh in the Championship.

Jones’ performances have caught the eye with a number of clubs reportedly monitoring his situation over the transfer window. However, he remains a huge part of Chris Wilder’s plans for next season as Boro look to put together a side capable of pushing for promotion to the Premier League.

The 23-year-old has enjoyed a rapid rise up the leagues and has proven himself as a fully fledged Championship player last season. He won the divisions Player of the Month award for December after three assists and one goal in four games and has become an exciting prospect on Teesside.

Part of Jones’ development over the years has seen him move away from his native London where he was born in Lambeth. During his time in non-league football, Jones was offered the chance to prove himself on the professional stage with a succession of trails at several London based clubs but was unsuccessful.

The Northern Echo: Isaiah Jones celebrates his goal against Swansea City.Isaiah Jones celebrates his goal against Swansea City.

“I went to Charlton three time” he told UrFresh TV over the summer. “The first time I went there, the first week I was good, second week I was late and not turning up so they said keep him in the Tooting environment for a couple of months then we will call him back.

“Went back, doing well and I was confident in myself. I remember one session where the gaffer stopped it and said ‘this kid is coming to take all of your shirts’. No gaffer does that! I lay him down by accident. I hold my hands up and say sorry so it didn’t work out.

“The third time went with my good friend, Dominic Morgan-Griffiths. But it was just the same thing. It didn’t work out but I think it was a blessing in disguise that it didn’t work out.”

The player’s potential was there for all to see during his trails at various clubs including Barnet. However, through his own admission, the player’s immature outlook cost him his first professional deal as he detailed a morning where he failed to take up the chance to become a permanent Addick by purposely missing a training session.

Jones continued: “I was meant to be in for 9am. This was the day I was meant to sign my pro at Charlton. I woke up on time at 6:15am but I didn’t know I was getting a pro at the time, I just thought it was for training. I said I wasn’t going to training and I want to stay in my bed.

The Northern Echo: Isaiah Jones in action for Middlesbrough.Isaiah Jones in action for Middlesbrough.

“I remember getting a call from Jason Euell and Steve Avery, top dog at Charlton asking me where are you? I said I was in my bed because I couldn’t be arsed to go training.

“So that happened and they called Tooting and Mitcham and told them what happened. The assistant gaffer Ashley Bosah drove from Murton to Peckham to pick me up and then dropped me at Charlton training ground.

“We had a meeting and they said ‘we can’t take it no more because you let us down’. We put you in more than two times and you just had to repay the favour. Because I was young I didn’t really see it as a bad thing. I just missed my chance. I’ll get plenty more offers.”

It was then that the decision was made for Jones to chase his professional dream away from the English capital.

Jones added: “I remember talking to my agent. I told him about what happened and that I didn’t really like the environment. He asked did I think I would be better out of London and I said yeah. Less distractions and more focus on football to chase your goal.”

The 23-year-old wing back returned to Boro’s Rockliffe training ground in the last week as the club got their pre-season training schedule underway. They are due to play their first friendly this weekend when they head to Heritage Park to face Bishop Auckland this Saturday.