KENWYNE JONES expects to be leading the line for Sunderland next season – even if Peter Crouch completes a £15m move from Portsmouth.

Pompey have turned down two Sunderland’s offers, but just as Bruce is considering making a third bid for Wigan midfielder Lee Cattermole after his latest £6m approach was rejected, so he is poised to table a final take-it-or-leave-it offer for Crouch.

With Fraizer Campbell having completed a £6m move from Manchester United last weekend, Crouch’s arrival would raise major questions about Jones’ position at the Stadium of Light.

But having signed a new long-term deal after rejecting the chance to join Tottenham in January, the Trinidad & Tobago international is unconcerned about the prospect of further competition.

“I’ve heard the talk about Peter Crouch, but I don’t feel concerned about it all,” said Jones. “A bid for anyone puts pressure on a lot of people.

“That’s the nature of football.

I can’t worry about whether Peter Crouch is coming or not, all I can do is work on my own game and leave the rest up to the manager.

“If Peter Crouch comes, we will be a strong team. But I will still be confident in my own ability and expect to play a big part in the team next season.”

Sunderland’s attacking department should reduce by one within the next couple of days after the Black Cats accepted Hull’s £2.5m offer for Daryl Murphy.

The Irishman rejected the opportunity to rejoin Roy Keane at Ipswich earlier this month and will complete a medical on Humberside tomorrow.

Michael Chopra has also officially left the Black Cats this summer, but Jones still accepts there will considerable competition for places.

Last season, the 24-year-old failed to reproduce his form from the previous campaign after suffering a serious knee injury which delayed his return to action until October.

This time around, he will be involved in the whole of the Black Cats’ pre-season schedule, and with tomorrow night’s trip to Darlington marking the first of seven friendly matches, the striker expects to hit the ground running when the Wearsiders start for real on August 15.

“This time last year I was getting prepared for surgery,”

said Jones. “Thankfully I came through that, and I got fit-ish for the rest of last season.

Now I am hoping to have a good pre-season and press on for the new season ahead.

“I feel like I really missed pre-season last summer. I think it will make a difference to my performances.

“It is hard to get really fit if you don’t do the pre-season work.”

■ Sunderland have offered Ricky Sbragia the job of chief scout following Mick Brown’s departure from the Academy of Light. However, the Scotsman has also been offered a coaching role at Blackburn Rovers.