Source: Northern_Echo
Kenwyne clocking up miles
SUNDERLAND striker Kenwyne Jones will only have a short time to recover from a punishing 12,000-mile round trip before he faces Liverpool at the Stadium of Light next month.
Darren Bent’s explosive start to life on Wearside had overshadowed Jones until his two-goal haul at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday reminded Steve Bruce of his value to the team.
The Sunderland manager will be hoping Jones returns unscathed from the rigours of World Cup duty with Trinidad and Tobago who face Costa Rica and Mexico.
The Soca Warriors travel to San Jose on Saturday, October 10 before returning to Port of Spain on Wednesday, October 14 where they will face Mexico. Jones will then return to the UK, giving him little time to recover before Sunderland’s crucial encounter with Rafa Benitez’ side, who currently lie third in the Premier League.
During his time in charge at Sunderland Roy Keane clashed regularly with the Trinidad football authorities, expressing concern that players returned from international duty too tired to compete in the Premier League.
Fraizer Campbell will offer Bruce an alternative should Jones fail to prove his fitness.
The manager will have no such worries over Andy Reid who has received yet another snub from Republic of Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni.
Despite the midfielder drawing rave reviews for his impressive form and improved levels of fitness, his international boss has chosen to ignore Reid’s claims to figure in Ireland’s World Cup qualifiers against Italy and Montenegro. The inclusion in Ireland’s squad of Blackburn Rovers midfielder Steven Reid, who has not played a league game this season, was the latest blow to Reid.
