ATHLETIC new boy Leon Jones has his sights set on playing international football after accepting the lure of a return home.

The 23-year-old, who came through the youth ranks at Heart of Midlothian, signed for Peter Grant’s side last Tuesday on a one-year deal after leaving Kentucky Wildcats.

Versatile defender Jones headed Stateside in 2017 to undertake a scholarship at the University of Kentucky, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering, and minor honours in mathematics.

The Glasgow-born player enjoyed a successful time playing for their team, which included winning a league and cup double in 2019, and manager Grant said that he had attracted interest from clubs in Major League Soccer (MLS).

But, speaking to Press Sport, the former Scotland youth cap felt the time was right to come home – and believes being successful as a Pars player could lead to further international honours.

“My mum’s from Hong Kong, her parents were born in China, and my dad’s Scottish,” he explained.

“Growing up, I was fortunate to be involved with the Scotland youth national teams at 15s, 16s and 17s. It’s only recently that I’ve thought I’ve played for Scotland, I was born in Scotland and my dad’s Scottish, but what if the opportunity came up to play for Hong Kong or China?

“If that did happen, it would be something I definitely would need to talk about with my family. I think maybe it would be something I would be quite eager to do.

“I definitely feel coming back home was good. It was hard with Covid over in the States.

“It was good to get back and be close with family. Even when I first came in to see the facilities, you can just see how big a club Dunfermline is.

“The plans and the way training’s been set up is really exciting for me coming in here.

“The gaffer’s constantly speaking about his aspirations for the season, in terms of that he wants to win the league, he wants to win every game, the style of play he wants us to play, and how he wants to dominate teams as well.

“He’s spoken to me and said 'Right Leon, you’re going to need to fight your way into the team and really push'. That’s the only opportunity I really need from the manager. I’m happy he’s shown that type of confidence in me.”

Explaining his move to America, Jones continued: “Growing up, I never really thought about America, and obviously I was at Hearts for a long, long time. In my final year at Hearts, my coach Jon Daly knew I was quite good at school.

“At the time – it was Christmas time – he said 'I’m not sure if you’re going to get offered an extension Leon'.

“He said this scholarship thing has come through in an email, and I wouldn’t hold you back from going over and trying it, the showcase. I went and tried it and then I got offered a four-year scholarship at Kentucky.

“Obviously I was still at Hearts at the time, so it came to March, and Hearts decided to offer me a year’s extension. I was just thinking to myself well, I’ve got a one year extension or four years in America, then obviously in the end I took the four years.

“I think coming back, people think oh, he’s been away in America for four years, and maybe they don’t look at the standard over there favourably without really actually going there and watching a game or games over there.

“I wouldn’t come here if I didn’t think I was going to play. I want to try and contribute to the team and to the success this season.

“I think if I can get on the field I can help the team do that.”