David Artell on the return of Billy Jones to Gresty Road.

David Artell has told the club’s official website that he has ‘swapped a Championship player for a Premier League player’ with the signing of Billy Jones on loan from Rotherham United.

Jones has re-joined the club on loan until the end of the season after club captain, Perry Ng, completed his move to Cardiff City earlier in the week.

Jones, 33, arrives with a wealth of experience after top flight experience with Sunderland and West Bromwich Albion.

The Alex boss told us: “We have swapped a Championship player for a Premier League player and that will do for us. I know the staff at Rotherham well and they have been absolutely brilliant with us. They have been very helpful and Billy’s agent has been very good as well.

“It was all straight forward with all parties and I think a good deal for everyone.

“Billy wants to play football and he wants to play here because he knows the type of football we want to play. He has a wealth of experience and knows the club.

“It may take him a game or two or a few training sessions but we have had a chat and gone through some things about how we play and what we expect of him. I am sure he will fit in quickly and his versatility to play in numerous positions was key as well. He has played both full-back positions and as a holding midfielder at Rotherham and he can play centre-half as well.

“We have a few here who can play in various positions and that is a really important part of their armoury, even more so in the pandemic and Billy fits into that as well.”