Notts' Jones on 'amazing' assists record and award

Jodi Jones initially joined Notts County on loan from Oxford United last season

Notts County winger Jodi Jones says producing an English-record 24 assists is a once-in-a-lifetime achievement he never expected - but he cannot say the same about the plaudits he has received for his efforts.

The 26-year-old Malta international has thrived on Notts' return to the English Football League, earning selection in the League Two team of the year and winning the division's player of the season award.

His 24 assists saw him surpass Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne and former Arsenal star Thierry Henry's record for the most assists in an English season, with 20.

"To be fair, I'm still hungry for one more to make it 25," Jones told BBC East Midlands Today ahead of Notts' final game of the campaign, against Forest Green.

"You hear people talk about strikers getting 24 or 25 goals, but with assists you hear more about 12 or 13, so when I do sit back and sometimes think I have 24 you do think it's some achievement.

"Getting 24 is amazing and if I'm being really honest, I don't think I'd get that many again."

'I wanted the award'

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."