Phil Jones convinced Sir Alex Ferguson to sign him for Man Utd after 7-1 drubbing

Phil Jones showed Sir Alex Ferguson he could make the grade at Manchester United despite featuring in a humbling 7-1 defeat in November 2010.

The game in question came as Jones, 30, was playing for boyhood club Blackburn Rovers having emerged from the academy ranks the previous season. He formed part of a five-man defence which was ripped apart by the Red Devils with Dimitar Berbatov running riot by scoring five goals.

The only positive for Blackburn appeared to be Christopher Samba's late consolation goal to make the scoreline slightly less embarrassing. However, despite the resounding nature of his side's defeat, Jones also caught the eye of Ferguson in the opposing dugout with his tireless efforts at the back even when the game was long gone.

"I don't want to talk about that," Jones told The Guardian of the 7-1 defeat. "I remember one of the goals. Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov played about five 1-2s and scored. With five minutes left I went and stood next to Wayne – so I could be the first to ask him for his shirt." The former England defender added: "He (Ferguson) said that game showed my determination. I was still flying into tackles at 7-1 down."

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The legendary former United manager made no secret of the fact he wanted to sign Jones after the mauling at Old Trafford. Speaking in August 2011, Ferguson said: "I was convinced we had to get him (Jones) after he played against us in the 7-1 game. When they lost the fifth goal, he was the one out there giving them all stick. That impressed me." Ferguson was speaking shortly after United signed Jones for an initial £16.5million in June that year.

The centre-back had also