Steve Bruce is hoping for real Kenwyne

Jan 27 2010 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal

“But I’ve never asked him the question (if he wants to go) because it’s crazy the notion I’d want to let him go.”

Jones was a shadow of himself as Sunderland were knocked out of the FA Cup on the south coast, but Bruce

had no regrets about selecting the mercurial forward. Having so far failed to get the best out of Jones (pictured right), he resorted to appealing to professional pride.

“With Kenwyne on the exterior nothing fazes him but the one thing we’ve got to do is get him back playing to the level he’s capable of,” insisted Bruce.

“If we do, we know Sunderland are a far, far better team than the one we’re witnessing at the moment.

“If his head’s been turned, if he doesn’t want to be here, I don’t know. All I know is we pay him very, very well, he’s a big hero with the supporters, we have to get him turned around and focused on what he’s good at.

“It’s up to him and his own personal pride to be the player we know he is.

“All this nonsense hasn’t helped, I’m totally convinced of that. We have to get him playing the way we know he can. That is obviously my biggest job at the moment.”

Liverpool have been persistently linked with the striker but Bruce has publicly questioned whether fellow suitors Birmingham and Stoke would have the funds to buy (and pay) a striker priced in the eight-figure bracket.

Given Liverpool’s financial situation, it is hard to imagine the Reds outbidding even them. Perhaps because of this, the idea of a loan was floated in the media last week – something Bruce laughed off immediately and Liverpool put down to talk from agents.

There has, says Bruce, been no Liverpool bid.

“The first conversation between the two clubs was on Friday evening (when chairman Niall Quinn telephoned Liverpool chief executive Christian Purslow about the matter),” said Bruce. “I’ve not spoken to Rafa Benitez since.”

Bruce goes into tonight’s game at everton with his usual spate of defensive headaches.

George McCartney has recovered from illness, and Nyron Nosworthy and John Mensah could both return from injury, while Matthew Kilgallon will make his debut.

Anton Ferdinand is expected to return to training today but Phil Bardsley and Michael Turner have suffered hamstring and knee injuries respectively, which are expected to keep both out for two to three weeks.