Break for Jones can be a boost for Cats

Feb 23 2008 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal

ROY Keane hopes Sunderland will feel the benefit of giving Kenwyne Jones the sort of winter break he hopes will become commonplace in the Premier League.

Like compatriot Dwight Yorke, the Trinidad and Tobago star took advantage of the Black Cats’ FA Cup exit to return home for some sun. Having seen the striker’s enthusiastic response on and off the training pitch since, Keane thinks it was a good decision.

Jones and his team-mates travel to Portsmouth today hoping to avoid the defeat that would equal a club record of 10 successive away league reverses, set in 1964-65.

“He’s had a break and that will have done him a world of good,” said Keane. “He’s trained extremely well this week and hopefully he’ll cause Portsmouth the same problems he did up at our place.”

As much as Kieran Richardson’s two goals caught the eye when the sides last met six weeks ago, the way Jones tortured Sol Campbell was equally impressive. Keane is one of many top-flight managers anxious to see the Premier League follow the continental lead and introduce a winter break. The Irishman would be prepared to grant players time off in future seasons, even if cup success eliminated any free weekends.

“Other managers have done it,” he said. “Sir Alex Ferguson did when I was at (Manchester) United, even during big games. But hopefully there will be a winter break in the next year or two.”

In his first season in the division, Jones has become popular with Sunderland’s supporters, and not only because of gestures like Wednesday’s when he spent three hours meeting supporters at a session scheduled

for 60 minutes. That he is equally gen-erous on the field pleases his manager.

“The most impressive thing about Kenwyne has been the fact he’s a team player,” said Keane. “Most top strikers are – and should be – very selfish, but if you look at the amount of assists Kenwyne has supplied, he’s up there with just about anybody in the Premier League. His work-rate and attitude has been excellent.”

Keane, who said he would be “delighted” if talks over an extension to his current contract – which expires in the summer of 2009 – resumed at the end of the season, was rather more coy about Yorke’s future beyond the campaign.

Yorke’s deal is in its final months and the midfielder admitted recently he may leave in the summer, probably for Australian A-League side Sydney FC. “Dwight’s future is very much here because we’ve got a game today,” said Keane. “I’m delighted with Yorkie.”

Today’s game comes too soon for Richardson, Carlos Edwards, Liam Miller and Danny Higginbotham, but they could be involved in Wednesday’s reserve game at Bolton Wanderers.

Meanwhile, Keane has reassured Russell Anderson of his Stadium of Light future, despite loaning the centre-back to Plymouth. Goalkeeper Márton Fülöp has also moved to the Championship for some first-team action, joining promotion-chasing Stoke City.

“Russell needs games,” said Keane, who this week sanctioned a month-long loan. “We had a couple of reserve games can-celled recently and Russell desperately needs to be playing now. He had a bad injury but he’s been as good as gold. An offer came in and it was a no-lose situation. He’s definitely still got a future at this club.” Hungarian Fülöp’s departure was delayed first by Darren Ward’s back injury, then uncertainty surrounding the date of the Championship play-off final, which was scheduled for Saturday, May 24, but could move to the Bank Holiday Monday.

The Football League permits em-ergency loans for a maximum of 93 days. May 26 is 94 days away. “I kind of have a gentleman’s agreement with Márton that if a club comes in which suits everyone, we’ll let him go,” Keane revealed. “Darren’s fit now and Márton wants games.”

Everton’s Uefa Cup run has delayed Sunderland’s first game against them since November’s 7-1 thrashing. The Toffees’ last-16 tie against Fiorentina is either side of their trip to Wearside, which will now be on Sunday, March 9, allowing maximum time to recover from the away leg and prepare for the return.