KENWYNE Jones has accepted the challenge of helping to take Sunderland to the next level after finally ending speculation over his future.

The 24-year-old Trinidad and Tobago international has signed a new four-and-a-half-year deal, which will keep him on Wearside until the summer of 2013, dashing Tottenham's hopes of persuading the Black Cats to part with one of their most prized possessions.

Todays news represents a major success for manager Ricky Sbragia, who insisted earlier this month he would rather walk away from the club than sell his best players.

Jones, who had also been linked with high-flying Aston Villa, revealed he had decided to commit his future to the club after listening to the plans Sbragia and chairman Niall Quinn have for the next few years.

He said: "The chairman and the manager wanted me to stay and I was very happy to stay.

"The club is taking a new direction and I wanted to be part of that. I know what Ricky is about and what he wants to do. He has big plans for the club to take it to the next step and, hopefully, in the next couple of seasons, that could happen.

"If you look at the fan-base and the facilities, that should tell you this is a big club and, hopefully, this is the start of something great."

Jones' decision will come as a relief to the club's fans, who have seen the former Southampton striker make a big impact since his £6m move from the south coast during the summer of 2007.

He was the club's leading scorer with a modest seven goals in their first campaign back in the top flight, but contributed considerably more.

Jones missed the start of the current season with a bad knee injury suffered in a collision with England keeper David James during an international friendly in Port of Spain in June.

However, he returned to action as a substitute in the 2-1 derby victory over Newcastle on October 25 and has scored seven times since as he attempts to establish a new partnership with loan signing Djibril Cisse.

The powerful frontman's form at the Stadium of Light alerted potential buyers, but it was Spurs who made their interest abundantly clear with a series of bids, which included £6m in cash and Darren Bent or, alternatively, a straight £15m cash deal.

Sbragia was furious with the way the Londoners conducted themselves, although opposite number Harry Redknapp has launched a robust defence of their tactics in recent weeks.

Jones admitted the speculation was a distraction, but is now hoping to put it all behind him.

He said: "The speculation unsettles the football club, but now everyone can concentrate on getting results."

For Sbragia and Quinn, the news could not have been more welcome.

The manager said: "The fact that we have had interest from top clubs shows how much of an asset he is, and it's fantastic that he will be a Sunderland player for many years to come."

Quinn added: "We are building a team for the long term and Kenwyne is a big part of that.

"In signing this new deal, he has shown that he wants to be part of our future and believes in what Ricky and the club are doing.

"In the current economic climate, the figures bandied around for Kenwyne have been staggering, but we have shown our intent to build a bigger and better club for the future by retaining our best players."

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