Derrick Jones back from training stint with AFC Bournemouth

Philadelphia Union midfielder Derrick Jones recently spent time in England training with Premier League club AFC Bournemouth.

The training stint was not announced ahead of time, but the Union posted a video of Jones and Sporting Director Earnie Stewart talking about the experience online on Monday.

The 20-year-old homegrown player trained with Bournemouth’s U23 team and first team while with the club.

“It was very hard, you know you have to be concentrated the whole time to get through the training session,” Jones said of his time with the first team in the video.

Jones made his first team debut in the Union’s season opener on the road at Vancouver Whitecaps last March and was part of the United States team that competed in the U20 World Cup. He finished the season with 12 appearances and eight starts as he struggled to find minutes behind veterans Alejandro Bedoya and Haris Medunjanin.

“There’s a different way and a different stress level in England,” Stewart said. “That propels you to a different level.”

Bournemouth, which currently sits 16th in the Premier League table, visited Talen Energy Stadium for a friendly in July 2015 in the close season after earning promotion to the top flight. The Cherries won 4-1.