King’s Lynn Town boss Gary Setchell is keen to cool Jones’ temperament

Hot prospect Jake Jones is not only having his form and fitness monitored by King's Lynn Town boss Gary Setchell this summer.

The tricky wideman has dazzled at The Walks since his temporary, and then full-time, arrival from higher-level Tamworth last season. But three red cards towards the end of the campaign saw him hit with a lengthy ban, much to the dismay of his manager. And Setchell admits he's keeping a close eye on the young winger's temperament as a result of his late-season misdemeanours.

'He's 21 and got bags of potential. There's no problem with his football ability – he's played in the Conference at a young age, he's got great ability,' said Lynn's manager of the former Walsall youngster.

'Obviously his temperament has got to be looked at. He got three red cards in five games, I know we laugh, but to lose a player of his quality for six games at the end of the season didn't help us especially after I'd let the other lads go. But him re-signing is definitely a massive plus for us.'

The skillful player got his pre-season campaign off to a flier on Tuesday night by scoring during an outstanding first-half performance against Wisbech Town. While he faded somewhat after the break, as Lynn conceded twice to slip to defeat, Jones was still a constant thorn in the Fenmen's side.

This afternoon he'll be looking to impress once again when the Linnets play their second friendly of the summer at Deeping Rangers.

Setchell added: 'Jake travels in from Birmingham and that just goes to tell you something about the club.

'He's had Solihull Moors and other teams onto him to go and sign for them so it's a real feather in the cap for a football club that he's decided to stay with us.'

While Jones is almost certain to play a big part in his team's latest warm-up match, Setchell looks set to be without defender Jason Lee and striker Michael Frew, both of whom missed the midweek match, and star man David Bell for the trip into Lincolnshire. So it will be a similar squad to that which appeared at Wisbech with reserve-team talents Chris Ward, Shaun Stocker, Jack Frowhawk likely to feature at some point.

'It was a very good work-out on Tuesday. I thought we looked fresh, zippy and passed the ball well in the first half,' said Lynn's boss.

'The lads came back fit, but they didn't look too fit second half (laughing). We put a lot into the first half and we probably could have been 4-0 up, I think Dick (Creasey, Wisbech boss) would say the same. We could have been well up but Wisbech did the same to us second half.'