Kenwyne sharpening up for Fulham clash

[Tallman]

Kenwyne sharpening up for Fulham clash
By Graeme Anderson (Sunderland Echo)

Kenwyne Jones is expected to play for Sunderland Reserves in Hetton tonight as Steve Bruce looks to sharpen up his squad ahead of Saturday's trip to Fulham.

The Trinidad & Tobago striker has not played for a month after picking up a three-game suspension in the wake of his sending off against West Ham United at the Stadium of Light on October 31.

During November, he missed the victory over Arsenal and the defeats at Tottenham Hotspur and Wigan Athletic.

And while it is unusual for Sunderland under Bruce to play senior players in the second string, Jones is expected to start this evening to give him match sharpness.

The manager suggested last week that he was considering Jones giving a run-out before his return to the first team.

And while he has not gone down that path with other injured players – the likes of John Mensah, George McCartney and Paulo Da Silva – Jones is an exception.

As a big man, he could do with a competitive game to get him back into the groove and this evening's game at the Eppleton CW ground in Hetton will provide an ideal platform for him.

Keith Bertschin's side take on Wigan Athletic Reserves at 7pm, hoping to improve on the Wearsiders' standing in the Barclays Premier Reserve League. Bertschin will be delighted if he has Jones's services to call on.

But Bruce will be more concerned about getting Jones ready for the testing away trip to Fulham.

Whether the manager decides to stick with the 4-5-1 formation which has generally served Sunderland well in recent weeks or to restore Jones to the front-line in a 4-4-2 formation at Craven Cottage remains to be seen.

Fulham have a decent record at home, where they have not lost since September.

And Bruce will be anxious to prevent a repetition of the dreadful display his first team produced at Wigan at the weekend as he looks to improve away results.

He will be delighted though to at least have Jones available as an option again. With the end of Jones suspension and that of Michael Turner last weekend and Lorik Cana's the week before that, Bruce now has a full squad to call on apart from long-term injured Lee Cattermole and Craig Gordon.

[Trinimassive]

Kenwyne had so much time off he should be able to Bend it like Beckham by now.

He shoulda been at least practicing some free kicks so we could at least have one player who could take ah proper freekick.

[Kingk]

forget free kicks
practice his finishing

[kev]

Only lasted 20 minutes, some reporting his came off injured, we are in our 1st cold spell so maybe he was just cold who knows we will no doubt find out tommorrow.

[Tallman]

Jones hobbles off on his Black Cats return
By James Hunter (The Journal)

KENWYNE Jones is facing a race against time to be fit for Sunderland’s weekend trip to Fulham after limping out of last night’s 3-0 reserve win over Wigan at Eppleton CW.

Jones has been out of action for a month while he served a three-game ban, but boss Steve Bruce decided to give him a run-out to give him chance to build up match fitness.

Jones won an 12th minute penalty – converted by hat-trick hero Ryan Noble – which led to Sunderland’s first goal.

However, the foul on him by Joe Holt left the Trinidad and Tobago star with a dead-leg and he lasted only another seven minutes before hobbling off.

Bruce will have to hopes Jones recovers in time to play at Craven Cottage.

Jones’ injury put a dampener on an impressive display from the Wearsiders against basement side Wigan, with Ryan Noble netting three times in the first 35 minutes - including two penalties.

Noble tucked away the first spot-kick after Jones had been sent sprawling by that clumsy Holt challenge, and then doubled Sunderland’s lead in the 27th minute.

Roy O’Donovan burst through central midfield before playing the ball to Robbie Weir wide on the right, and he crossed in low for the unmarked Noble to slide in at the near post and divert it past the goalkeeper from four yards out.

Noble earned the second penalty himself, getting a toe to David Meyler’s throughball just ahead of oncoming goalkeeper Lee Nicholls before going down after minimal contact with the Wigan man.t inside the box.

Referee Scott Duncan again pointed to the spot, and Noble picked himself up to complete his treble, firing low into the bottom left-hand corner.

Sunderland dominated possession in the second half but could not add to their lead.

Wigan had the chance to score a consolation in injury time when Russell Anderson brought down Lewis Codling inside the box. Anderson was the last man and saw red for the foul, but Cywka saw his spot-kick saved by Trevor Carson.

SUNDERLAND (4-4-2): Carson, Weir (L Noble 80), Anderson, Kay, Liddle (Brown 61), O’Donovan, Meyler, Reed, Murphy, Jones (Tounkara 19), R Noble. Subs (not used): Wilson, Cornforth

Booked: Meyler

Sent Off: Anderson

WIGAN ATHLETIC (4-5-1): Nicholls, Kupisz, Langley (Nolan 61), McCarten, Barnett, Cywka, Holt (Redmond 64), Routledge, McManaman, Mustoe, Codling. Subs (not used): Williams, Crane, Jukes

Booked: Holt

Referee: Scott Duncan Attendance: 458

[de_redman]

Jones fit for Black Cats
Sunderland striker available despite reserves knock (skysports.com)

Sunderland have confirmed they expect striker Kenwyne Jones to be fit to face Fulham this weekend.

The Trinidad & Tobago picked up a dead leg in the Black Cats' reserve team clash with Wigan Athletic on Tuesday night.

The former Southampton striker sustained the knock in winning a 12th-minute penalty on his comeback from a three-game ban.

It had been feared the blow could curtail Jones' involvement against the Cottagers on Sunday, something that has now been dismissed.

"Kenwyne's got a dead leg and we expect him to be OK for the weekend," manager Steve Bruce told the Sunderland Echo.

"To lose him again would be a blow, but hopefully things will be fine and he has an extra day to recover with the game not being until Sunday."

[just cool]

Been hearing this term for yrs now, can anyone define what a ded leg iz?

[kev]

Been hearing this term for yrs now, can anyone define what a ded leg iz?

It was cold, windy and wet he got and knock and thought the dressing room was a much nicer place to be, and he wasn't far wrong

[Tallman]

Been hearing this term for yrs now, can anyone define what a ded leg iz?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/health_and_fitness/4284462.stm

[Ngozi]

I used to think it was a knee straight into your quad muscle ...leave your limping for days on end

[davidephraim]

I used to think it was a knee straight into your quad muscle ...leave your limping for days on end

now that's a dam dead leg!

[fatimarima]

I used to think it was a knee straight into your quad muscle ...leave your limping for days on end

now that's a dam dead leg!

yeah that sound correct

[Big Magician]

same as dead wood

[Jay10]

same as dead wood

It hav a difference....you could use d leg after a few days rest....

[Bakes]

Been hearing this term for yrs now, can anyone define what a ded leg iz?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/health_and_fitness/4284462.stm

Thanks to you and Ngozi... never knew what the term meant myself.  Suffered the injury a couple times playing basketball myself... extremely painful and yeah it tends to stick around for a while, pain with every step.  Rest, Ice... Heat after 48 hrs and electro-stimulation (battery-powered electrodes to force the muscles to twitch by sending a small electric current thru the muscle)... works like a charm.