Phil Jones has revealed that he has set himself the target of forcing his way into the Manchester United starting lineup on a regular basis over the coming weeks.

The England international has recently returned to the squad following a lengthy spell on the sidelines with back and knee injuries that date back to the summer.

With a number of matches due to be played over the upcoming Christmas period, Jones believes that it provides him with the perfect opportunity to force his way into Sir Alex Ferguson's plans.

"I'm just happy to be back playing and hopefully I can force my way back into the team," Jones told the club's official website.

"There are a lot of games coming up. The Christmas period is never an easy one, but we've got a great squad and hopefully we can keep everyone fit."

Jones started as United defeated Sunderland 3-1 at Old Trafford yesterday afternoon.