Liam Rosenior was always “a thinker” and “a leader” even as a player, according to Nathan Jones. And the Charlton boss is now proud to have played his part in his development before facing the new Chelsea head coach in his first match in the FA Cup on Saturday.

Rosenior, then 30, revealed he wanted to learn from then assistant coach Jones when he joined Brighton back in 2015. The defender was already studying for his A licence.

Since the end of his playing career, the former England U21 star has managed Derby, Hull and Strasbourg before arriving at Stamford Bridge this week.

“I enjoyed working with Liam,” recalled Jones. “I’ve kept in touch with him. We always speak when we come up against each other.

“He was a thinker of the game so it’s no surprise to me that he is a manager. He was very confident, very eloquent in how he spoke. He was a leader. Not a ranter or a raver and get-you-by-the-scruff-of-the-neck leader but he was a leader.

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“I didn’t know he had wanted to learn from me - that is nice to know. If you can have a positive impact on anyone, I am proud of that. That is all you can do in life. If you can leave some sort of legacy or some sort of positive impact on individuals or places, I think that is all we can strive to do.

“I saw Liam (on Wednesday night), we had a brief chat. He’s a logical fit for them and I’m sure he’ll do well - I’m just hoping he has a really poor start at the weekend.”

Jones and Rosenior have both worked abroad - the former Luton defender played for two years in Spain while the ex-Fulham star has been coaching in France. But the Premier League is different.

Jones, now 52, had a torrid experience coaching in the top flight when he lasted only 14 games with Southampton in 2022/23. As the results got worse, his interviews became even more bizarre.

“Nothing changes tactically,” said the twice Luton manager. “It’s probably the media exposure because every little thing is exposed, analysed, dissected. And sometimes innocent things get taken wrongly.”

Jones joined Charlton in February 2024 with them 20th in League One before leading them to promotion last season. They are now 19th after one win in 11 but he was in good form in his pre-match press conference. He joked about the 8pm kickoff tomorrow. “It is good job Strictly is finished,” he smiled.

And asked about Chelsea’s disciplinary problem after Marc Cucurella’s red card at Craven Cottage, he said: “I am not sure you should be asking me about the emotional side of the game! I have just come back from a ban myself!”

But before this first London derby since Charlton were in the Premier League in 2007, Jones said: “I don’t want it to be about Liam Rosenior this week. I am very proud going up against him but we are at home and we are Charlton. I think it is a really good occasion for the fans. They have been through a tough spell through the years. I think they feel they are behind something now and moving in the right direction.

It is a fantastic opportunity for the club to showcase itself. I want the Valley rocking and the fans seeing things that they can get behind. I want it to be a proper cup tie.”

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