KENWYNE Jones admitted he had to quit Saints following the death of a Spanish footballer last weekend.

The soccer world was stunned when Sevilla's Antonio Puerto collapsed during a match against Gatafe and subsequently died due to a heart attack.

Puerto was just 22 - the same age as Jones.

A few days later, Leicester's Clive Clarke - who is on loan from Jones' new club Sunderland - collapsed during a Carling Cup tie at Nottingham Forest.

Jones, on being unveiled as Sunderland's third highest signing at £6m, said: "Every player's dream is to play in the Premier League and being at my age and seeing the events of players having to retire and, sadly, players dying, you want to take that chance when you get it to play in the Premier League.

"My time came and I wanted to do it".

Instead of playing for Saints at Loftus Road, Jones is expected to make his Black Cats debut at Manchester United as his boss Roy Keane makes a sentimental return to Old Trafford.

Also in the Sunderland side could be former Manchester United trainee Danny Higginbotham.

Jones' ex-St Mary's colleague was this week signed for £3m, just 12 months after Stoke paid Saints just £250,000 for the versatile defender.

Keane has now spent £35m on new players this summer.