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Jones hits out at Neville over Mignolet criticism

Brad Jones vowed to fight for his place against team-mate Simon Mignolet © Getty Images

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Brad Jones has hit back at Gary Neville over criticism of fellow Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet.

Jones says that former Manchester United right-back Neville's lack of goalkeeping experience means that he has little right to question Liverpool's first choice.

Mignolet, 26, has come in for increasing scrutiny after managing only one clean sheet in 10 games for the club this season.

His long-term future as number one goalkeeper at Anfield has also been called into question, with manager Brendan Rodgers showing an interest in former Barcelona player Victor Valdes, who is now a free agent.

Jones, who has only made 22 appearances for Liverpool since arriving from Middlesbrough in 2010, is keen to take Mignolet's first-team place himself.

But he thinks his team-mate was criticised unfairly by Neville, now a member of England's coaching staff and a television analyst for Sky Sports.

Neville questioned Mignolet's technique following Liverpool's 1-1 draw with neighbours Everton on September 27, suggesting that he should have saved Phil Jagielka's late equaliser. He argued that the Mignolet's low starting position often made it harder for him to reach shots at goal.

"I've never seen Gary Neville play in goal but he seemed to have a good opinion of it," Jones told the Liverpool Echo. "Everyone has an opinion.

"What we work on in training is very match-specific and match-related. It's just one of those things and there are too many opinions knocking about nowadays."

Jones also told Mignolet not to worry about either Valdes or public criticism.

"I've seen enough over the years that people want to jump on the bandwagon and criticise people and as a goalkeeper you tend to get that," Jones said. "There are not too many people who speak highly of goalkeepers. They tend to want to put them down.

"He is strong minded enough to get on with his job and understand what happens. It is a shame that it happens because last season he produced some massive saves that helped us win games and people tend to forget them.

"Then the press jump on it and want to criticise him and say someone else is coming into the club and this and that.

"It is important to let him get on with his job and to continue doing the things he was doing last season."

Jones has had few opportunities since Mignolet arrived from Sunderland for £9 million in June 2013. He has not made a first-team appearance since February, and his only three games last season were all the FA Cup.

But Jones, whose last Premier League appearance was in March 2013, insists he is ready if called upon - and that his determination in training is inspired by captain Steven Gerrard.

"Before every game, I will be honest, I'm disappointed if I'm not playing," he added. "It might sound stupid but that's how I work during the week. One thing people find when they come to the club is how hard training is - how intense it is.

"Players don't do down days and that comes from Stevie. I don't think I have ever seen him walk around in training. He is one of the hardest workers - so when your captain is like that, everyone follows. And it is something that has probably improved a lot of people's games."

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