MARK JONES admits he is playing for his Wrexham future.
The 25-year-old midfielder joined home-town club Wrexham for a second time in the summer of 2009, penning a 12 month contract, after spending last season at League Two outfit Rochdale.
The Welsh international has made the majority of his appearances operating as a winger in the first half of the season, but Jones, by his own admission, has not played to his full potential.
Jones however produced an excellent performance after coming on as a substitute in Saturday’s 3-1 win at Altrincham, and he capped the display by scoring Wrexham’s third goal.
Buoyed by that morale-boosting strike, Jones is looking to continue that form between now and the end of the season.
“There is a lot of pressure on me in the second half of the season,” said Jones.
“Obviously I am out of contract in the summer so it is up to me to start performing.
“I had a poor first half of the season. I felt I did alright to begin with but I don’t think I was playing well after that.
“I felt fit but for some reason I was just not playing well. It was not down to being on the wing, just a personal thing. I don’t know why I was not up to standard.
“I am feeling confident after Saturday, although I know it was just one performance. But still, there is no better way to get confidence than scoring a goal.
“I am looking for more starts now. I want to get back into the team and start as many matches as possible before the end of the season.”
Jones, an ever-present for Wrexham’s opening 17 games of the campaign, scored his second goal at Altrincham since his summer move, the first arriving in the 3-0 win over Luton on September 22.
Saturday’s goal came with his left-foot, a feat Jones achieved just days earlier in a practice match, and he was delighted to be back on the scoresheet.
“I was delighted to score. I have been wanting to get a goal for a while,” said Jones.
“Obviously it helps for confidence.
“Andy Mangan made a run on the outside and that distracted a defender. There was a gap and I hit it with my left foot.
“I am right-footed but I have scored a few with my left foot. I got one last week in the practice match against Crewe.
“It is just one of those things, it fell for my left-foot at Altrincham and was there to hit.”
Jones, who has two full Wales caps, admitted he was delighted to be given his chance at Altrincham, and even more pleased that he featured in his favoured position in the middle of midfield.
“I played in a three-man midfield on Saturday,” added Jones. “And I played in the middle which is my favourite position.
“I prefer it in the middle as it gives me a chance to get forward which can lead to goals.
“We played well as a team and it was good for the other two in midfield, it worked well.”
Manager Dean Saunders was delighted to see Jones, a prolific scorer for Wrexham with 16 strikes during the 2005-06 season, weigh in with a goal.
But the Reds’ boss insists Jones, who came on as a late substitute in last night’s 2-1 win over Mansfield, can be his own worst enemy at times.
“Mark scored a good goal with his left foot which was nice to see,” said Saunders.
“He works too hard at times and he needs to relax more.”