Brad Jones: Goalkeeper Can Influence Liverpool's Future in FA Cup vs. Everton

Liverpool's third-choice goalkeeper Brad Jones was catapulted from "Nowhere Man" to "Man of the Moment" on Tuesday night when he came off the bench to save a penalty and help his team to a 3-2 Premier League victory against Blackburn Rovers.

It was Jones' first appearance for Liverpool this season. With No. 2 Alexander Doni suspended after being sent off at Ewood Park and starter Pepe Reina banned for headbutting Newcastle's James Perch, his second appearance will almost certainly come in Saturday's FA Cup semifinal against Everton at Wembley.

As the 30-year-old Australian prepares for his spotlight moment, he will have the overwhelming support of the entire football community.

Jones lost his five-year-old son Luka to leukemia in November last year, and the fact that he is still playing at all is testament to remarkable mental resolve in the face of personal devastation.

"It has been a difficult 18 months with my son passing away," Jones told reporters Tuesday night, per the Guardian. "That [win over Blackburn] was for him and obviously for the supporters as well for giving me the support they have." 

For Jones and his long-term partner, physiotherapist and model Dani Lawrence, his unexpected appearance capped quite a week; the pair gave birth to a second son, Nico, last Wednesday and we can only imagine the extremes of emotion he brought into their lives.

Football fans worldwide have reached out to the pair on Twitter, first welcoming their new arrival and then welcoming his father back into action against Blackburn. Then, of course, the fans wished Jones senior the best of luck should he take the field for what is arguably Liverpool's biggest game of the season on Saturday.

Jones tweeted in response to the outpouring Tuesday night:

"

Thanks for all the messages! Football is a crazy game #YNWA (You'll Never Walk Alone)

"

And for once, it didn't feel like a tired cliche.

This is a man who pulled out of the 2010 World Cup after learning that his son had been diagnosed with cancer, stayed by his side during a heartbreaking 18-month fight for his life and has somehow managed to emerge from his grief still able to walk out in front of 40,000 fans and do his job.

His club deserves credit, too.

When Liverpool signed Jones from Middlesbrough for £2.3 million in August 2010, they knew only too well of Luka's condition and where his father's priorities rightly lay.

They could have thought better of it, but instead the club and its fans have been a second family to him. Those who know Liverpool know tragedy better than most. They know how to come together in times of need.

And so to Saturday's FA Cup semifinal, a meeting against Liverpool's city neighbors Everton and a chance for Jones to make himself the most unlikely of heroes. If he plays well enough, there may even be a starting spot in the Cup final up for grabs—should Liverpool prevail.

For the journeyman goalkeeper who has spent the majority of his professional career as a backup and has been loaned out seven times (six times by Middlesbrough, once by Liverpool), there presents the most glorious shot at a new beginning.

"It hasn't really sunk in yet," Jones said, via the Guardian. "It's going to be a big occasion and something I wasn't expecting. I have to make sure I do the right things."

"Big occasion" is an understatement in the context of Liverpool's season and the implications for their future. Kenny Dalglish's team have taken just a point from their last five Premier League matches and appear destined for a hugely disappointing mid-table finish.

Liverpool are currently 13 points adrift of Newcastle, who occupy the fifth and final European qualification spot, and 33 behind league-leaders Manchester United.

It's been a wretched season, with the only bright spot so far being their Carling Cup triumph against Cardiff City at Wembley. In some circles, even that was written off as Liverpool winning a trophy nobody else took seriously.

But the FA Cup offers the sweet promise of an uplifting finale to Liverpool's campaign—a chance to sound a note for optimism that might resonate over the summer and perhaps spark a red rejuvenation.

It could also offer Liverpool a direct route into the Europa League group stages. As things stand, their Carling Cup win puts them into the unknown of the qualifying rounds. Only a fifth-placed league finish (not going to happen) or an FA Cup triumph would avoid that fate.

Liverpool fans are clinging to that hope. Dalglish's job could depend on it, and there are a host of big-name stars at Anfield who could well start edging toward the door if they fall against Everton.

That is the importance attached to Liverpool's semifinal on Saturday. That is the weight of responsibility that will very likely be put upon Jones as he takes to the Wembley pitch before a crowd of 90,000 screaming Scousers.

Despite some shaky moments from Jones against Blackburn, including giving away a penalty himself, Dalglish is ready to trust him with it.

When asked if Jones would start against Everton, Dalglish replied (per ESPN), "We don’t have a problem going in with any players, no problem whatsoever. It was a great first contribution in the Premier League to save a penalty, I am sure he will remember that.”

That he will. And if he starts at Wembley, he will never, ever forget it.

Whatever the result, I'm not alone in hoping Jones puts in an eye-catching performance to reinvigorate his career and provide fresh impetus for a man who is still relatively young for a goalkeeper.

Perhaps it can be a start of his return to prominence with the Australian national team, too?

If he were to make it, nobody in football deserves a spot at the 2014 World Cup more than Jones.