JASON JONES and Steve McManaman would appear to share little in the crazy world of football.

The Swansea City rookie can only dream of the £60,000 weekly pay cheque that McManaman will begin picking up at Real Madrid from July.

But Jones and McManaman both learned their respective trades at the same Anfield academy.

Whereas McManaman went on to achieve fame and fortune with Liverpool and England, Jones got no further than the Anfield departure lounge.

In fact, the Wrexham-born goalkeeper seemed destined for the soccer scrapheap until Wales manager Bobby Gould got in touch last season.

“I was released from Liverpool on a YTS,” said 19-year-old Jones, after deputising for the injured Roger Freestone to make his second league appearance. “Bobby Gould phoned me and asked whether I’d like to come down to Swansea. I had a trial and I’ve been here ever since.”

Jones's previous taste of senior action had been restricted to a meaningless end-of-season game at Mansfield last year and two FAW Premier Cup-ties against Caernarfon Town this term.

He kept two clean sheets against Caernarfon but those games paled into insignificance as FA Cup heroes Swansea tried to make up lost League ground.

“I was so nervous before the game I could hardly speak,” said Jones. “But as soon as the whistle went I was fine. My first touch was okay and I enjoyed the rest of the game.

“Everyone kept me going. The boys gave plenty of advice and told me to keep concentrating. I still haven’t been beaten in the first team this season and I can’t ask for any more than that.

“I know Roger will come back into the team when he is fit. But it’s nice to know the manager has enough trust to put me straight into a big game. He was really pleased for me at the end of the game. He tapped me on the head and said, ‘Well done, I knew you could do it.’

“I’ve learned a lot from Roger in training this season. I think he’s one of the best goalkeepers in the lower divisions and his coaching has helped me improve.”

Swansea manager John Hollins said, “It was a massive game for Jason and he performed extremely well. I’m glad he’s got that under his belt because I know I’ve got another goalkeeper who can do a job.

“It’s a very nerve-racking position because the first thing you do you have to do well. He got hit on the first cross and we thought they would put it in more.

“But full credit to him. He came for the next one and showed that he was going to be positive.”

If Jones was a cause for Swansea cheer, fast-maturing central defender Jason Smith was the real hero as Barnet lost on home soil for the first time since the end of October.

With a rookie goalkeeper behind him and young Kristian O’Leary alongside because of Matthew Bound’s suspension, Smith bossed the defence and cleared everything that Barnet could muster.

Barnet captain Ken Charlery struck a post inside the opening 10 minutes of the second half, but Smith’s contribution was so great that Jones was protected for long spells.

When Barnet did eventually get a clear sight of Jones’s goal late on, the ’keeper stretched out a strong hand and held on to the drive of former Swansea player Michael Basham.

Swansea’s opening burst produced two early headed chances for Damian Lacey and a diving effort from Julian Alsop, the pace of Stuart Roberts presenting real problems for Barnet.

Roberts was again conspicuous when his cross was almost diverted into his own net by Bees defender Greg Heald.

But the heavy conditions made passing difficult and opportunities were becoming thin on the ground when Richard Appleby replaced the tiring Roberts after 62 minutes.

The switch paid dividends within four minutes as Lacey’s cross from the left found the ever-willing head of Alsop.

The ball went back across the six-yard area but there was Appleby stooping to conquer with a close-range header – his first touch of the game.

After failing to start the epic battles with West Ham and Derby County because of an ankle injury, it was a sweet moment for Appleby.

It also lifted Swansea into the top half of the Third Division and, with the FA Cup now no more than a fond memory, presented a possible launchpad to realising play-off aspirations.