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January 19, 2008
George Caulkin
Roy Keane has described Kenwyne Jones as the most accomplished centre forward operating in English football. The Trinidad & Tobago player has been an inspirational figure for Sunderland since his transfer from Southampton last August, scoring five league goals for a team who have been threatened by relegation; his manager values him at £40 million.
Last weekend’s 2-0 victory over Portsmouth at the Stadium of Light was a case in point, when Sol Campbell and Sylvain Distin were driven to distraction by the strength, pace and aerial ability of the 23-year-old. While Keane has dismissed the notion that Sunderland would contemplate selling Jones, the manager is aware that his performances have been noted.
He is also a powerful counter-argument to those who say that Keane, who spent £36 million last summer, has demonstrated little nous when it comes to buying players. “We paid £6 million for Kenwyne and, to me, he’s the best striker in the Premier League, no doubt,” he said. “There have been no inquiries for him and we wouldn’t be looking to sell him, anyway.
“If certain strikers are worth £20 million, then he is worth £40 million and I would not swap him. Of course the big clubs are looking at him. He did well against [Manchester] United and Arsenal and they wouldn’t be doing their jobs if they weren’t looking.
“The most important thing about him is that he’s always putting in a big shift, whereas many forwards are selfish. But I believe we can match his ambitions. He has to plug in to where we want to go. I knew if he came to this club it would kick him on to the next level.”
Ross Wallace, the winger, has been ruled out for the remainder of the season with a knee injury, while Danny Higginbotham, the centre half, will be absent for up to six weeks after undergoing surgery on a broken toe.
From The Times
George Caulkin
Roy Keane has described Kenwyne Jones as the most accomplished centre forward operating in English football. The Trinidad & Tobago player has been an inspirational figure for Sunderland since his transfer from Southampton last August, scoring five league goals for a team who have been threatened by relegation; his manager values him at £40 million.
Last weekend’s 2-0 victory over Portsmouth at the Stadium of Light was a case in point, when Sol Campbell and Sylvain Distin were driven to distraction by the strength, pace and aerial ability of the 23-year-old. While Keane has dismissed the notion that Sunderland would contemplate selling Jones, the manager is aware that his performances have been noted.
He is also a powerful counter-argument to those who say that Keane, who spent £36 million last summer, has demonstrated little nous when it comes to buying players. “We paid £6 million for Kenwyne and, to me, he’s the best striker in the Premier League, no doubt,” he said. “There have been no inquiries for him and we wouldn’t be looking to sell him, anyway.
“If certain strikers are worth £20 million, then he is worth £40 million and I would not swap him. Of course the big clubs are looking at him. He did well against [Manchester] United and Arsenal and they wouldn’t be doing their jobs if they weren’t looking.
“The most important thing about him is that he’s always putting in a big shift, whereas many forwards are selfish. But I believe we can match his ambitions. He has to plug in to where we want to go. I knew if he came to this club it would kick him on to the next level.”
Ross Wallace, the winger, has been ruled out for the remainder of the season with a knee injury, while Danny Higginbotham, the centre half, will be absent for up to six weeks after undergoing surgery on a broken toe.
From The Times
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