Stoke City are keen on the services of Manchester United defender Phil Jones. Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

Stoke City are keen to bring Manchester United defender Phil Jones to the club as assistant manager Mark Bowen admitted "something may happen."

The England international has had a long list of injuries that have curtailed his United career since moving from Blackburn Rovers.

With Jose Mourinho seemingly set on Eric Bailly and Danny Blind as his centre-back pairing -- with Chris Smalling also in the mix -- Jones may be forced into looking away from Old Trafford for game time.

Stoke coach Mark Hughes is a firm admirer of the English defender, and assistant Bowen confirmed his boss' desire to see Jones in the red and white of Stoke.

"I remember Sam Allardyce talking about him when he broke through and said he was the new Duncan Edwards," he told the Stoke Sentinel.

"He did well as a youngster, got the big move, but it hasn't worked out for him there. I don't know how close we are or how far down the line it's gone.

"He's played the majority of his career at centre-half, but in his younger days he went into midfield as well.

"I don't know what's gone wrong, but he's gone from even a player Fergie [Alex Ferguson] was talking about as being someone who could have been one of the greats.

"But we have a bit of reputation for bringing players like that into this set up and then thriving. Fingers crossed, something may happen."

Jones, 24, only managed 10 Premier League appearances last season and has not made Mourinho's matchday squad for their first two games of the season.