Trinidad and Tobago striker Kenwyne Jones is set to enter the final phase of his recovery process as he returns to the training field to begin running again after undergoing surgery last month. Jones suffered the knee injury in the June 1 friendly international against England and the injury was feared to be major until further tests proved it wasn’t as bad as first thought.
And he was all too pleased to announce his return to running mode on Sunday. As a matter of fact he is targeting an October 4 return to playing action or by the latest October 18. (Meniscus injuries are the most common knee injuries of all. The meniscus are two tough pieces of cartilage that rest between the thigh bone and the shin bone.)
“I’m starting to run again tomorrow and that’s a big relief because it’s been becoming frustrating having to sit it out over the past few weeks. But progress has gone well and my spirits are good at the moment” Jones told TTFF Media on Saturday.
“It’s been hard work all around. I went from having a bad injury to it scaling down to a meniscus surgery being done and I thank God for that. This means I could return much earlier than we feared at first.
“I haven’t had much rest because I have been doing a lot of weights, spinning (bike exercise) and swimming to strengthen the knee.”
Jones looked on as Sunderland drew 1-1 with Wigan Athletic on Saturday with neither Dwight Yorke nor Carlos Edwards being included by Roy Keane.
The ex-Southampton and W Connection forward is trying to make a comeback by early October and if all goes well he’s not counting out the possibility of a return to the T&T National Team for World Cup qualifiers against Guatemala (October 11th) and USA (October 15th).
“I’m trying to get fit for October 18 but with determination and fingers crossed I’m also eying a return on October 4th. If it happens by the 4th then there’s the possibility that I can be available for the national team, ”Jones added. “He (Roy Keane) doesn’t have a fight with me and as of now I am keeping trust in the Almighty and once things go well then I hope to be there (for the qualifiers). I’m not going to put any pressure on returning for the qualifiers in October at the same time… if it happens, it happens”
Sunderland are home to Arsenal on October 4th and travel to Fulham on October 18. Asked for his take on T&T’s chances in the upcoming qualifiers, Jones remained confident that the “Soca Warriors” will advance to the final round and take it forward to South Africa from next February when the final phase kicks off.
“I think we have a perfectly good chance to advance. We need to stay positive and keep on working hard. I believe that we have the players to make it happen but it’s just a matter of getting it right in the preparations and playing the football with the right approach in the actual matches,” Jones concluded.