Sunderland manager Steve Bruce says Kenwyne Jones has been unsettled by reports of a loan move to Liverpool.

The 25-year-old striker has been strongly linked with a switch to Anfield after injuries to three of Liverpool's top goalscorers.

Bruce admitted that Jones was not on top form in Saturday's 2-1 FA Cup defeat by Portsmouth, saying: "It certainly has unsettled him.

"His performance on Saturday reiterated that - and that's my fear."

Bruce has been angered by Liverpool's pursuit of the Trinidad & Tobago frontman and last week he said their efforts to sign him were "disrespectful".

Jones, who joined Sunderland for £6m in 2007 and signed a new four-and-a-half-year contract last January, has been targeted by Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez as he looks to bolster his goalscoring options following injuries to Fernando Torres, Steven Gerrard and Yossi Benayoun.

Reports claimed Benitez was keen to recruit Jones on loan until the end of the season, possibly as a swap for out-of-favour Reds forward Ryan Babel.

606: DEBATE I'm sure he would have been very excited about a move to liverpool, so if he thinks the club has spoiled his dream it could mean trouble for us Church

On Monday, Benitez insisted that he was not involved in the talks, claiming Liverpool's managing director Christian Purslow was conducting negotiations.

Bruce is concerned that the speculation is having a detrimental affect on Jones, who has scored only one goal in Sunderland's last 11 matches.

"With all the speculation and nonsense that is surrounding him, he has had his head turned by a ludicrous notion that we are going to let him out on loan," added Bruce.

"On Saturday [against Portsmouth] it looked as if it had affected him.

"There's no doubt the boy has got wonderful talent. The thing he has to do is make sure he does it repeatedly and regularly.

"Maybe over the last few weeks with all the nonsense which has been written about him, maybe his focus and his attention has not been playing on a Saturday, it's been elsewhere."

Black Cats chairman Niall Quinn added: "The situation, I'm led to believe, is led by agents, which I find unhealthy. We hope the whole thing is gone to bed and put away."

Sunderland will be looking for their first away win in the league since the opening day of the season when they travel to Everton on Wednesday.

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