Stoke Striker To Fight For His Place
Approaching a decade on English shores, has Kenwyne Jones fulfilled his potential?
The Trinidad and Tobago international has spent almost his entire time in England wearing red and white stripes, joining Southampton in 2004 before leaving for Sunderland in a £6 million deal in 2007. Currently at Stoke, the last couple of seasons have not been plain sailing for the striker, who has often been restricted to a place amongst the substitutes since the signing of Peter Crouch two years ago. Goal droughts and a bust-up with teammate Glen Whelan have also caused Jones problems.
Having never scored more then ten goals in a Premier League campaign, the forward found the net at a similar rate to his Sunderland days during his debut season at the Britannia Stadium. The next two years, however, would be nowhere near as successful, with just a solitary strike in 2011/12 followed by a similarly unimpressive three goals in 2011/13. Remembering that many of his appearances came from the bench is significant, yet Stoke would still have expected more from their £8 million man. The fact that Peter Crouch surpassed him as the club’s record signing possibly foretold Jones’ recent lack of playing time.
Turning 29 years of age next month, Jones still has plenty more left in the tank. After scoring his first professional hat-trick in the Potters’ Capital One Cup clash with Walsall, the striker managed to oust Crouch from the starting lineup for the weekend trip to West Ham. Playing the full 90 minutes in the 1-0 victory will have benefited him greatly and given him a good chance of featuring next game, with managers often reluctant to change a winning team.
Currently occupying a place at the head of their attack, will Jones be able to convince Stoke boss Mark Hughes to keep him there?
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