Sunderland don't want to part with Jones

Bruce says Jones is worth £40m on his day (GETTY IMAGES)

Sunderland manager Steve Bruce has claimed Barclays Premier League rivals Birmingham and Stoke could not afford to buy striker Kenwyne Jones who on his day is worth £40m.

The Black Cats boss does not want to sell the 25-year-old Trinidad & Tobago star after Birmingham and Stoke reportedly showed interest in the player.

Bruce told the Daily Mail: "Everybody's got their price, whether you're Steven Gerrard or Cristiano Ronaldo, and if something out there blows your brains.

"But with no disrespect to Stoke or Birmingham, can they afford him? I very much doubt it. It's not just the fee but wages, all the rest of it. I just can't see it.

"On his day, you can look at Kenwyne and say he's worth £40m, then on another day you'll think, 'Come on'. That's Kenwyne.

"He tests your skills as a manager. He's a big, genuine, nice lad. It's always the challenge - to get the best out of him."