Kenwyne Jones

Kenwyne Joel Jones (born 5 October 1984) is a professional Association football who plays as a striker for Premier League club Sunderland A.F.C.. He previously played for Southampton F.C., Stoke City F.C., Sheffield Wednesday F.C., W Connection and Joe Public F.C.

He began his career with Joe Public F.C. in his native Trinidad and Tobago. He moved to W Connection in 2002, and he was a utility player in the Trinidad and Tobago team in 2003 against Finland national football team. In 2004, he joined Southampton F.C., where he was converted to a striker. He was later loaned to Sheffield Wednesday and Stoke City during the 2004-05 in English football season.

Background

Jones was born in Point Fortin, Trinidad and Tobago, and he attended St. Anthony's College in Trinidad along with his future Sunderland team-mate Carlos Edwards. and was a similar player to Kenwyne;

He had earlier had trials at Manchester United F.C. and Middlesbrough F.C. in 2002. and further trials at West Ham United F.C. and Rangers F.C. in 2004. W Connection's Chairman David John Williams described Jones' move, saying: "When Kenwyne Jones was transferred to Southampton, I told you all that he is going to be the biggest thing in Trinidad and Tobago football since beside Dwight Yorke". In December 2004, while on loan to the Football League One club Sheffield Wednesday, he scored seven goals in seven games, and returned to Southampton in January 2005, where he played in games against Liverpool F.C. and local rivals Portsmouth F.C..

Before the start of the 2006-07 in English football season, Jones scored a Hat_trick Association football against R.S.C. Anderlecht in Southampton's last pre-season game, Meanwhile in the Football League Championship Jones scored two goals against Birmingham City F.C. on 29 November that ended 4–3 to Southampton. On 26 December 2006, he received the first Red card (sports) of his career for a push on Mark Hudson (footballer born 1982) in the match against Crystal Palace F.C.. He scored another two goals against Southend United F.C. in a 4–1 win on the last day of the season to ensure a place in the play-offs for Southampton, following this, Jones was injured for the play-off semi-final defeat at Derby County F.C. but finished the season with 16 goals. This followed news that Derby County F.C. wanted to sign Jones for around pound sterling5.5 million. Jones submitted a transfer request to Southampton on 24 August 2007 and went on "strike action" until a move could be agreed, requesting not to be selected for the forthcoming league match against Stoke City.

Sunderland

On 29 August, it was confirmed that he had joined Sunderland in a deal valued at £6 million with Stern John moving to Southampton, The Trinidadian stiker made his debut for Sunderland on 1 September in a 1–0 defeat to Manchester United, scoring his first goal in a 2–1 home win over Reading F.C. on 15 September.

Jones was linked with a £12 m player move to Liverpool in November, with Peter Crouch moving to Sunderland, Jones was again linked with high profile clubs on 21 December, including Chelsea F.C. and Liverpool F.C., but Sunderland manager Roy Keane insisted that he would be going nowhere. Jones scored his fifth goal at the Stadium of Light, with a header from the near post off a corner kick, in Sunderland's 3–1 win over Bolton Wanderers F.C. on 29 December.

International career

Jones has been Cap (sport) at Under-17, Under-20, Under-23 Olympic Team and the Trinidad and Tobago national football team. Jones was named as Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation's player of the year for 2007. Jones said, "A lot of big names have won this before and I never really thought about something like this happening to me".

Honours and Awards

- Sunderland A.F.C Player of the Season: 2007-08