Steve Bruce anxious to solve Kenwyne Jones riddle

Oct 31 2009 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal

When Kenywne Jones plays well, so do Sunderland, so cracking the enigma of their totemic striker should cure any inconsistency. Stuart Rayner reports.

Jones was the villain on Tuesday when Sunderland went out of the League Cup on penalties. The first came in regulation time, Brad Guzan saving his weak kick. When a penalty shoot-out followed Jones was stood down from his duties.

“He was disappointed he missed that penalty but he played very well on his own up front against (Richard) Dunne and (James) Collins,” says Bruce. “He gave as good as he got. If he had stuck the penalty away, he would have been the hero but at least he had the balls to take it.”

If Jones has at times disappointed, the same cannot be said of Bent. “He is a better footballer than people give him credit for,” says Bruce. “His link play is good, he is terrific in the air – better than I thought – quick, has power, and boy can he finish! So he has got to be in with a chance (of an England call-up).

“It frightened the life out of me last week when I knew he had taken a knock and shuddered a knee. Thankfully, it isn’t too bad.”

When Bruce spent £10m of Ellis Short’s fortune to take football’s most notorious Twitterer from Tottenham Hotspur, it was nevertheless something of a gamble. “The challenge of management when you pay all that money is to say, ‘Just come and enjoy yourself son. Come and play,’” Bruce reflects.

“I remember him in that season for Charlton when he got 22 goals, nothing ever got him down and he played with a huge grin on his face and a great attitude. He maybe never had the craic at Spurs. He’s up against Cole but Benty is single-minded enough not to worry about that and think, ‘Can I just keep my own level of performance up?’ I am sure he will do his own stuff, That is all you can do.”

If Jones does, too, West Ham can expect a torrid afternoon.