Kenwyne: Henderson and Reid are a big miss

Mar 6 2010 by James Hunter, The Journal

KENWYNE Jones admits Sunderland’s strikeforce are missing the creativity of injured duo Jordan Henderson and Andy Reid.

Goals have dried up of late for Sunderland, with just two goals scored in their last six games – with Jones netting in the 1-1 home draw against Wigan at the beginning of last month and his strikepartner Darren Bent on target to secure a 1-1 draw at Portsmouth a few days later.

Prior to those two games, the Black Cats drew blanks against Everton and Stoke and they also failed to score against Arsenal and Fulham in their last two matches.

In fairness to Jones, who has hit seven goals this season, and top scorer Bent, who has 15, they have been feeding off scraps.

With Henderson out of action with damaged ankle ligaments and Reid sidelined with a hamstring problem, the service to the strikers has been poor.

Jones said: “As a whole, the team is always going to miss people.

“Our squad is not the biggest and when you miss one or two players then there are holes left behind.

“They [Jordan and Andy] have been terrific all season and it is terrible for them to have the injuries they have and to be missing out.

“At the same time, everyone is important to the team and we miss them when they are out.

“When as a team you are not creating many chances, it increases the pressure on the strikers to put away the chances you do get.

“Sometimes a striker gets a goal from a half-chance and other times it takes him seven or eight chances! We just have to keep on working hard and make the best of what we have got.” While the Wearsides have struggled to find the net, they have at least worked hard to tighten up at the back.

Jones has been a key figure at both ends of the pitch, using his aerial ability to help out defensively at corners and set pieces.

He added: “It is not just a recent thing. I think I have been doing that for the last three years! It is nothing different to what I have been doing all the time.

“Everyone has to do some defending when it is necessary. It is part of your job.

“When your opponents have a corner, you have to take up positions and defend.

“I hope what I am doing is benefiting the team and that we keep on getting clean sheets, and hopefully we will go on to get a win.”