Edwards can help end goal drought

Mar 22 2008 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal

CARLOS Edwards has promised to help ease the pressure on Kenwyne Jones just as the third member of Sunderland’s Trinidad and Tobago trio, Dwight Yorke, has increased it.

Jones has impressed most observers in his debut Premier League season, with Chelsea captain John Terry describing him last week as the division’s best header of a ball. But the ex-Southampton forward goes into this afternoon’s game at Aston Villa with only one goal from his last 19 appearances.

While Edwards does not feel his compatriot will be over-anxious at the statistic, he would like to help him put it right.

“He is not the type to stress,” said the winger, who played against Chelsea in his first game since breaking his leg in December. “He might be frustrated but he doesn’t show it. He wants to score goals. He will not be pulling his hair out. He will just look at the next game and look to do well.”

Jones’ aerial prowess has led to comparisons with Didier Drogba and to his manager Roy Keane valuing him at £40m. Edwards does not believe the hype has helped.

“He is only a young guy and to be classed with Drogba and the like is a massive pressure,” he said. “But he is the type of guy to prove himself as a good player. Kenwyne knows my quality and knows we had not played a game together this season until Saturday. He knows I will try to get the ball into him and into that area to create havoc. If I can, we might be able to get him to double figures.”

Yorke, who Keane consulted

before paying Southampton £6m for Jones’ services, is equally complimentary. But as a former centre-forward, the 36-year-old knows Jones needs to add to his five goals this term.

“Kenwyne has done fantastic for us,” said Yorke. “But even though he’s done great and, as much as he’s contributed in scoring goals and setting up goals, this is where we need him to produce the goods. This is a crucial time for us and him.

“He’s only a young lad, this is his first time in the Premier League and we’re asking a lot of him, but that’s the kind of expectation he has to cope with. I’m sure he’ll come up trumps.” If Jones’ goal drought has been a frustration, Edwards’ inactivity has been even more so. The former Wrexham and Luton Town player claims he would rather be homeless than have to give up football.

“Football is life for me,” he said. “I would leave my house today, no worries, if it was a straight choice between football and the house. I just want to be around a ball. I will be like that until someone tells me it’s time to put the boots up. Who knows, though, I might be playing in the Masters by then.”

After his contribution to the second half of Sunderland’s Championship-winning season, there were great expectations for Edwards’ first top-flight campaign. He is anxious to guarantee another so he can start fulfilling them.

“I am even more determined to stay up because of what has gone on,” he stressed. “What will be, will be. But I’m sure we will be safe, I know it. We will have to regroup next season and have a great season in 08-09. I still have a lot to prove.

“Everyone has an opinion, I have mine and that is I can do a good job in the Premier League. There are a lot of games still to go and I know I have the qualities to do well in the Premier, with Sunderland or whoever. The Premier League is full of world-class players and I can compete at this level.

“It’s really tight down the bottom but I’m confident we will be out of the bottom three come the end of the season. I think all the players feel like that. Bolton are right behind us. You look at the games they have and you think they will get beat, but Fulham’s win over Everton shows you can’t think like that. The result doesn’t reflect the league and that can happen if you slack off.”