Kenwyne reiterates future is with Cats

Jul 28 2009 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

KENWYNE Jones has once again pledged his loyalty to Sunderland after admitting he is getting increasingly exasperated by the persistent rumours surrounding his position at the club.

Jones has been regularly linked with a move over the last 12 months, fuelled partly by Tottenham Hotspur’s public pursuit of him at the end of last year, and is tired of constantly having to deny stories claiming he wants to leave.

The latest flurry of speculation was provoked by new manager Steve Bruce’s pursuit of Peter Crouch, a target-man centre forward who would probably have been in direct competition with Jones for a starting place.

But Jones is utterly unflustered by Bruce’s desire to strengthen his strikeforce and has hinted for the first time he could remain at the Stadium of Light for the rest of his career if the club want to keep him.

“If I wasn’t committed to Sunderland I don’t think I would have just been away on a pre-season trip for 10 or 11 days,” said Jones, following an impressive runout against Atlético Madrid in the Amsterdam Tournament. “I signed a four-year contract in January and I’m committed to staying here for that length of time, maybe more, you never know. I wouldn’t have signed that contract if I was looking to leave would I? I do get sick and tired of constantly hearing about this team and that team and me. I get tired of being told I’m leaving, it seems like it is every day sometimes. But that’s life, it’s paper talk, or whatever else you want to call it and I just ignore it. I’m not going anywhere.”

Bruce’s desire to find another striker with aerial power and the ability to hold the ball up in attack could be perceived as a threat to Jones’ position on Wearside.