Steve Bruce is hoping for real Kenwyne

Jan 27 2010 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal

FOR the second time in a matter of days Steve Bruce has held talks with Kenwyne Jones, telling his unsettled striker to sort himself out – and quickly.

Sunderland travel to Everton in the Premier League this evening with the Black Cats manager worrying which Jones will be available.

As Bruce admitted, the Trinidad and Tobago international was way off the pace at Portsmouth on Saturday. He put that down to speculation about a move to Liverpool.

But having tried desperately to draw a line under the affair, Bruce has now put the onus on Jones to start earning his wages again.

However, he was unable to do the one thing which could have killed the issue and guarantee Jones will not be sold this month.

“I will have another talk with Kenwyne before the match,” Bruce confirmed. “I tried to speak with him on Friday and put him in the picture. He’s obviously hearing different stories and he’s maybe questioning me.

“I’ve tried to be as open as I possibly can with the boy to tell him what the situation is. But if Liverpool are ready to make an offer, even with six days to go it’s very difficult to even consider it.

“I’ve never been in any doubt that I don’t want to sell him. I never wanted to sell Emile Heskey (when Bruce was manager of Wigan) last Christmas, I never wanted to sell (Wilson) Palacios to Spurs, or (Luis Antonio) Valencia to Man United.

“However, I’ve been in it long enough to understand if the money’s there and it’s right, who knows?