Cats legend: Jones is our Rooney.
By: Sunderland Echo.[/size]
Kenwyne Jones' home debut had Gary Rowell drooling...
Sunderland hero Gary Rowell believes Kenwyne Jones is a class act, comparing him with Manchester United ace Wayne Rooney. Writing in his column for the Echo rowell said: "Kenwyne Jones had as good a home debut as I've seen in a long time and the signs are that he's going to offer us something a bit special.
"Saturday was the first time that the vast majority of our fans will have seen him play and they'll have gone away enthusing about him. He scored one, set up the other and was a handful throughout.
"There's no doubt that he brings a physical presence up front that we've been lacking but what struck me about him was not so much his size as his skill.
"The goal he scored had nothing to do with his size, it was all about technique and if a Rooney had spun on the area to wrongfoot his defender before shooting past the keeper with his 'wrong foot' everyone would be drooling about it.
"Jones was outstanding and it's right that he gets the plaudits. But the other home debutant, Danny Higginbotham, also had an excellent game.
"And due recognition should be given to Danny Collins who never seems to get the credit he deserves for his good games but who really helped hold things together defensively in the closing stages with some crucial challenges, ended Rowell."
Meanwhile, Jones's former manager at Southampton, George Burley, once described him as "another Didier Drogba in the making" and the imposing Trinidadian revelled in showing precisely why Roy Keane paid £6m for him last month. He duly used his impressive physique to conjure the space in which to turn Ivar Ingimarsson and shoot low, hard and left footed beyond Marcus Hahnemann from 22 yards after initially controlling Grant Leadbitter's pass with the outside of his right boot.
"As good a home debut as I've seen," said the Sunderland manager, who also saw Jones's cross create Sunderland's second goal for Ross Wallace. "Kenwyne's big and strong, his footwork is underestimated and Reading couldn't handle him." Five years ago Sunderland's manager, a believer in destiny, barely registered Jones when the forward arrived at Manchester United from the Caribbean on a short trial, during which he asked to have his photograph taken standing alongside United's then captain.
"He was typical Roy Keane, composed, no conversation, didn't smile and moved straight off afterwards," recalled Jones who framed the photograph. "I'm just so happy my cycle has come full circle and I'm here today playing for him."
Man of the match: Kenwyne Jones: - Bullied Reading into submission. He often appeared unplayable on a day when he was not only aerially dominant but showed some nifty footwork.
Best moment: - The amalgam of strength, technique, precision and power which saw him swivel clear of his marker and find the bottom corner with a 22-yard shot.
Gordon: Kenwyne is frightening.
By: Nick Alexander (Safc.com).[/size]
Craig Gordon believes that Kenwyne Jones' pace and power will prove invaluable for the club this season. Jones - like Gordon - has started his Sunderland career well and scored on his home debut against Reading on Saturday. It was a performance to remember and Sunderland's keeper is
looking forward to seeing his team-mate, a 6m pound buy from Southampton, in derby action against Middlesbrough on Saturday. Gordon said: "Kenwyne put on a great show. He gives us something different, he's a big lad and when you have that you've always got more options. He adds a lot to the team and he scored a great goal. I think he will scare teams."
Sunderland go into Saturday's Tees-Wear derby in good heart after their 2-1 win over Reading.
"We take a lot of encouragement from the performance and result," added Gordon. "It is going to be a happy place this week. Hopefully we can build on the Reading result."
"We have had some positive performances this season even though the results have not always gone right - like against Liverpool and Manchester United."
"We have showed that we can win games at home and we need to do it away from home now. We're all looking forward to the Middlesbrough game."
Kenwyne: I'm a flipping genius.
By: TEAMtalk.[/size]
Sunderland striker Kenwyne Jones has revealed his spectacular goal celebration has "become natural" to him. Black Cats fans witnessed his traditional back-flip celebration after he opened the scoring in Saturday's 2-1 Premier League win over Reading and the £6million signing from Southampton hopes it will be the first of many. He told the club's official website: "I've been doing that for 15 years, so it's become natural. "I've never hurt myself, even when I used to do it in the front yard at home. "Hopefully I will be doing a few more this season."
