Kenwyne Jones told to make quick return from international duty to start for Sunderland

15 October 2009 12:22
The Trinidad & Tobago striker is aiming to make sure he spearheads the Sunderland attack at the Stadium of Light on Saturday despite playing in a World Cup qualifier against Mexico in Port of Spain on Wednesday night. [LNB]Jones, 25, played in the final 15 minutes of the 2-2 draw and was told by Sunderland manager Steve Bruce to catch the first available flight back to England to strengthen his chances of holding on to his first-team place against Liverpool. [LNB]Tottenham to revive interest in Sunderlands Kenwyne JonesJones was denied a starting berth when he only returned to Wearside on the eve of the 4-1 defeat of Hull last month following international duty and Bruce has made it clear he needs to get his skates on to face Liverpool. [LNB]"Kenwyne will be getting the earlier flight back," said Bruce. "I told him that he can't play on Saturday if he doesn't. He will fly back through the night and get into London tomorrow morning, so he's still got to get back up to the north east from there. [LNB]"But the earlier flight gets him back over here 12 hours earlier, which at least gives him more chance to recover. I'll have to see how he is when he gets back. [LNB]"It doesn't matter whether you've played in a game, played the full 90 minutes or not - if you get straight off a plane from Trinidad then you are not going to be in the best of shape." [LNB]Jones' country made it to the 2006 World Cup finals but failed to qualify for South Africa having finished bottom of the qualifying group. He has, however, enjoyed an upturn in fortunes at club level. [LNB]He has scored five goals this season thanks to thriving partnership with England hopeful Darren Bent who has hit the target seven times already this term. [LNB]"They have become a good partnership and they have proved that they are a handful for any defence," Bruce said. [LNB]"Kenwyne has grasped the nettle just recently and done really well. We have to make sure he stays at it." [LNB]Former Manchester United striker Fraizer Campbell will be handed the chance to play alongside Bent if Jones' trans-Atlantic journey takes a heavy toll ahead of a match with a Liverpool side whose title challenge is already in danger of collapsing. [LNB]

Source: Telegraph