Is Kenwyne Jones Expendable Because Of Steve Bruce?

For some, that is his problem as a manager, as the best bosses have the man management skills to get the best out of every player. For others it is a black mark against Jones who is failing to make the most of his natural talent.

In resisting Tottenham Hotspur's attempt to lure the striker away 12 months ago, Sunderland made a bold statement of their intent.

No longer would they have to sell their best players against their will. Jones stayed and Sunderland stayed up, with his presence up front and goals playing an important role in their escape act.

A year later, though, and with Bruce failing to get the best out of him, Jones is, if not quite surplus to requirements, expendable. Bruce will feel there are better strike partners out there for Darren Bent, with the German international Kevin Kuranyi his preferred alternative
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Birmingham are apparently willing to pay £11m for Jones, £5m less than Tottenham wanted to throw at the Black Cats last year, but it is a big fee and Bruce will claim the deal is too good to turn down as he looks to build a team in his own image as a manager.

Committed, dedicated and hardworking. Jones may be all one or two of those in his own way, but Bruce wants things his way. He is the manager and that is his decision. I suspect the majority of supporters will be willing to go with him at this stage.

It is a risk because Jones has been something of a talisman over the last couple of years, but it is probably a risk worth taking for Bruce as he looks to ensure the team is made up of players he can relate to and therefore inspire.

If Jones stays, Bruce will make the best out of it and will make a big public display of support for the former Southampton man, saying he is the perfect partner for Bent, blah, blah, blah.

But if he goes, he will make an even bigger statement about getting players in with the right character and how the money was too good to turn down for a player who has scored only six goals this season and has drawn a blank in 15 of his 19 appearances under Bruce.

Those statistics have already been put out there be other media sources and I wonder whether they were the result of research or a subtle suggestion from the manager?

I don't know too much about Kuranyi other than he is a Brazilian born German international and will be out of contract at Schalke in the summer, which means Sunderland can pick him up relatively cheaply.

He has a decent pedigree, with 19 goals in 52 appearances for Germany and appears to have the physical attributes to be a success in England. Bruce's transfer record is generally good too.

In turn, if Jones goes for £11m that will give Bruce money to spend elsewhere with Wigan left-back Maynor Figueroa probably available if the Wearsiders are willing to splash out £7m to take him to the Stadium of Light. So much for a quiet window eh Steve?!