According to Stoke manager Tony Pulis, the striker is trying to cope with a family tragedy which he believes affected his performances in recent weeks. Jones responded with his first goal in six games in the victory against Everton on Saturday. Next up is a trip to Old Trafford and a meeting with Manchester United on Tuesday. In an interview on the club website, Jones said: "When it comes to football it does tend to take your mind off stuff. "Problems are part of life and sometimes it does tend to spill over into football. "In football you have to enjoy every day that you have because when its finished, that's it." It was Jones' seventh goal for the club following his £8million arrival from Sunderland in August. "In the past weeks, chances have been few so it was good to be off the mark again, " he said. "It was a great way to start the new year. "Things are going well and we are looking forward to going there (to Old Trafford) and doing our best." Pulis was delighted to see Jones end his duck with a powerful first-half header to put Stoke in front. The striker's flick-on was then turned into his own net by Phil Jagielka for the second goal. Pulis told the Stoke Sentinel: "There had been a few moans and groans, but you get that at most grounds. But the fans were brilliant with him in this game, and I am so pleased for him. "He has had an issue off the field that might have affected him a bit, but we haven't put any pressure on him. We have let him deal with it himself. "I was very pleased when he scored the goal. That gave him the confidence to play as well as he did." And Pulis is convinced there is more to come from his seven-goal top scorer, who will lead the line at Manchester United. He added: "Although Kenwyne's performances maybe dipped a little bit, we have great belief in him."
