WEDNESDAY’S former England striker, Jay Bothroyd, has told of the debt he owes to Dave Jones.
The on-loan star from QPR will try to repay it by helping the Owls to challenge for Championship promotion, like Cardiff did when the pair were there.
“I owe him a lot,” Bothroyd told The Star. “He has a been a big influence. When I went to Cardiff I had a reputation as an inconsistent journeyman. But there I made myself indispensable, played every week and scored goals.
“I was disappointed when he got the sack. He had a positive influence on me. He’s a big reason why I came here. He managed us well at Cardiff.”
Jones built a Bluebirds side that narrowly missed the play-offs in one season and qualified for them in two others.
Bothroyd added: “I suppose the gaffer wants to make this team like Cardiff was: competing at the top end consistently.
“They definitely have the infrastructure here to do that. He hasn’t been here long, but he’s come a long way in that short time.”
The striker won his England cap in a three-year spell with the Bluebirds which included 41 league goals in 112 starts plus four sub appearances.
Jones has said the 30-year-old has work to do in his Hillsborough loan to put his career back on track after a lean time with Premier League QPR.
Bothroyd says: “As a footballer you always want to improve. I probably lost my confidence a bit at QPR.
“I didn’t get many opportunities at QPR. I came here to get more.” But he does not necessarily see it as an end to his Loftus Road career.
“I’m on loan until January. I don’t know what’s going to happen in the future,” he said.
“I’m con
tracted to QPR. But I’m happy to be here. I can’t wait to get started. I’m excited to be playing again. All I can do is work hard, enjoy my football and see what happens.”
Bothroyd and other recent signings Martin Taylor and Paul Corry will be hoping for debuts in the near future. Defender Taylor, from Watford, and midfielder Corry, from Ireland, were on the bench last Saturday.
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