Stoke May Lose Etherington for Wembley But at Least They Have Joneshttp://www.fanhouse.co.uk/2011/04/28/stoke-may-lose-etherington-for-wembley-but-at-least-they-have-jo/By John PercyMatthew Etherington's expected absence from the FA Cup Final is undoubtedly a hammer blow for Stoke, but at least Tony Pulis can console himself with the return of another key player.
After three difficult months that have seen him become a target for criticism from his own supporters, it appears Kenwyne Jones has finally rediscovered the form that made him one of the Premier League's most feared front men.
Four goals in four games don't tell half the story, for Jones looks a completely different player to the one that appeared tentative, short of confidence and, frankly, an expensive mistake at a club record £8 million earlier in the year.
Against Wolves on Tuesday, Jones displayed all the attributes that once had John Terry rushing to Chelsea's powerbrokers demanding that Roman Abramovich sign him from Sunderland.
He swatted defenders away like they weren't there, linked up play with ease and proved a general nuisance in the opposition penalty area.
And while Roberto Mancini will have walked out into the Staffordshire night lifted by the cruel injury to Etherington, he will have been acutely aware that Jones represents a serious threat to his hopes of ending Manchester City's agonising wait for silverware.
It is easy to see why Steve Bruce ran out of patience with Jones last summer. You look at the Trinidad & Tobago international towering above everyone else, consider all his strengths and expect him to be a colossus every week.
But he is clearly a player who needs an arm around the shoulder. Perhaps Bruce tired of the softly-softly approach and decided enough was enough.
At the start of this year, Pulis must also have been agonising over how to handle him. There was the game against Sunderland where he was booed by both sets of fans.
An off-field problem, believed to be a difficult divorce, was affecting Jones but Pulis stuck with him. A few weeks ago the pair had a chat about it and Jones hasn't looked back since.
Pulis, in his own words, needs to "keep him at it" if he wants to end Stoke's own trophy drought. But to keep Jones at it, he needs the delivery of Etherington, and that's why Pulis is giving his crocked winger every chance of making the Final.
It looked ominous when Etherington collapsed to the turf on Tuesday. His expression suggested that he knew he would miss out on Wembley.
But Stoke are already talking of oxygen tents and every possible method to ensure he appears. This first week will be vital in his recovery but after that Stoke are in the laps of the gods.
How Stoke need him for the Final. And especially Jones.
Jubilant Jonno praises Joneshttp://www.givemefootball.com/premier-league/jubilant-jonno-praises-jonesStoke City – Kenwyne Jones is one of the best strikers around according to Jonathan Walters
Stoke City striker Kenwyne Jones has come into criticism for some of his performances of late.
But four goals in his last four games for the Potters seems to have got the proverbial 'monkey' off his back, with his return to form prompting his name to ring loud and proud at the Britannia stadium once more.
Jones' strike partner Jonathan Walters says the Trinidad and Tobago international's ability was 'never in any doubt'.
"Kenwyne is one of the best strikers in the Premier League and he has shown that this season for us," he said.
Walters is pleased to see the 26-year-old star firing on all cylinders again – even if he has been caught in the race to be Stoke's top goalscorer this season.
"Everyone goes through good and bad patches but Kenwyne is riding on the crest of a wave at the moment.
"Let's hope that continues until the end of the season. He is unplayable when he is in this sort of form."
Fresh from their 0-3 victory over relegation strugglers Wolves at Molineux on Tuesday night, Stoke moved up to ninth in the Barclays Premier League table.
The focus now turns to an away trip to Blackpool at the weekend before a home fixture against Arsenal.
After that comes the biggest game in the club's recent history as Stoke prepare to face Manchester City in an FA Cup final showdown at Wembley.
"It would be a remarkable achievement to finish in the top 10 and pick up more points than the 47 that were accumulated last season," Walters concluded.
"Together with reaching an FA Cup Final, that would cap an unbelievable year for us."