Kenwyne Jones can sense Sunderland is now looked upon differently by people on the outside.

Darren Bent's decision to sign for Sunderland in the summer, along with the arrival of players like Lee Cattermole and Michael Turner, who also left rival top-flight sides - Wigan and Hull City respectively - to move to the Stadium of Light, is testimony to the club's improved standing.

And Jones told The Journal: "I think perceptions of Sunderland have changed.

"The way we have started to play this year, and the way we have started the season in terms of points, is obviously going to change the way people look at us and that is a good thing.

"Your ambitions all depend on the way you start the season. This is just a start, but I think we knew after five games that things were going well.

"I wouldn't sit here and say, yes, we are going for Europe, but at the same time we want to do as well as we can with this group and we shall see what happens."