GREG Abbott started the training session by personally introducing City’s “newest” player to David Hopkin.

The man concerned was Alex Jones, a striker out of the reckoning for so long that he had witnessed three managerial changes from the treatment room.

“Greg said when I started training, ‘gaffer, this is Jonesy, nice to meet you!’” he laughed. “That was quite funny.

“But there’s been a lot of change since I last played.

“I didn’t really speak to Simon Grayson at all. “I had just started my rehab (when he came in) but then the pain started in my ankle.

“I had the operation. When that was done, the season was over. So, I didn’t get chance.

“It shows how things can change quickly. But that is football.

“You only have to look at other clubs to see how quickly managers can change.

“Look at (Aston) Villa, they lost in the play-off final and now the manager has changed.”

If Jones comes off the bench at Accrington this afternoon – Hopkin has already made it clear he won’t be starting for a while yet – it will be 336 days since his last league outing against Plymouth.

Tuesday night’s brief cameo in the Checkatrade Trophy was the first time Jones has played properly since.

A 45-minute return in pre-season at Guiseley was swiftly followed by another setback in training as he paid the price for pushing himself too hard too early.

Jones admitted: “The pre-season injury was the toughest part of my career.

“I had done so much work over summer and felt good in the first game. I shouldn’t have played as early as I did but I wanted to be out there.

“I have learned this time to ease myself back in. No smashing balls for an hour after training.”

Jones spent a fortnight convalescing at St George’s Park, which allowed him to see his family in the Midlands. He credits them for helping keep him sane during his long spell out of action.

“My family were there on Tuesday,” he said. “They are very supportive and have missed coming to games as much as I have missed playing.”

Jake Reeves was another confidante in casualty. The midfielder, who is still being hampered in his lengthy rehab, helped to ease the frustration.

“We were in a similar position and both found it difficult at times. Being out is not easy, especially when you are so eager to play and we pushed each other one.

“There were so many new players and I wasn’t out there training with them.

“It takes time to get to know them. It’s been nice since returning to training that I have been able to speak to people more and form relationships.

“I did have time with the new lads in the summer for two or three weeks. It’s not as if I was locked away in a cave that is the physio room either.

“I got to see the lads. But nothing is the same as being out there training.”

City were a fixture in League One’s top six when Jones last featured – he returns to a team currently in the bottom four. Only Nathaniel Knight-Percival remains from the side that started in that Plymouth game.

But Jones is upbeat about the long-term picture under Hopkin.

“We signed 15 players in the summer, a massive change. You only have to look at other teams where that has happened, it takes time for transition.

“It is difficult to start on fire when there is so many new people and managers.

“But since the new gaffer came in, I think you can see everyone coming together and things are heading in a positive direction.

“We can get back to where we were. There has been change and it will take time. But, slowly but surely, it is happening.

“The performance last weekend was a step in the right direction. We have to build on that and get some momentum.

“In the short space I have been out training and around the gaffer, he has got his ideas across really clearly.

“Everyone knows their jobs by 3pm each Saturday. That is what you want as a player, no grey areas.”

And there is another bonus to being fit again - shorter days in the training ground.

Jones smiled: “Injured players are in longer. But the more time with the physios the better in the long run.”