ACCRINGTON Stanley new boy Callam Jones is determined to make up for lost last time as he gets his first taste of life in the Football League with the Reds.

The 20-year-old defender is on has signed a six-month loan deal from West Bromwich Albion for an initial six months and he cannot wait to get going after 18 months out injured on the sidelines.

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The England Under-18 international only returned to action for Albion’s youth sides in April after suffering double agony with a serious knee ligament injury.

“When I was out for such a long time I missed the game so much, but now I’ve been given the opportunity to play here at a great club in Accrington,” he said.

“It’s something that I’ve really wanted to do and now I can do it.

“I tore my anterior cruciate ligament twice, back to back. I’d got over the first one and was in the final stage of the recovery and two weeks before I was back in training I tore it again. That was another nine months, but these things happen and I’m looking to make up for lost time now.

“I just need to be playing football. I’ve been playing under-21’s for a while so coming here and playing men’s football will be a new challenge for me. It’ll be a learning curve and I think it will be more physical because it’s about playing with a range of players not just Under-21’s. I can’t wait to see how different it’s going to be.”

Jones arrived at the Wham Stadium in time to begin pre-season training with his new teammates and he was pleased to get the deal sorted so quickly.

“For the time being All I’m worried about is doing well for Accrington,” he said. “It’s a case of playing football and enjoying my football. That’s the main thing. From there I can see where it goes.

“It’s good to be here early. If I’d come in and everyone already knew each other and had gelled together, that might make it a bit more awkward. But there are a lot of lads starting here so that makes it a little bit easier.

“I’d known about the move for a week or so. It had been my intention to go out on loan and fortunately for me Accrington wanted me. As soon as I heard about it I took the chance to come here.

“I did my research before I came here and saw that they were a bit unlucky to finish fourth last season, but that’s still impressive and I don’t see why we can’t be successful again this season.”