The Irishman was a lively presence alongside £6million man Jones in the Black Cats' 1-0 home loss to title-chasing Chelsea on Saturday.

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It was O'Donovan's third Premier League start, but he would love to take that tally into double figures before the campaign's over.

Jones has not had a regular strike partner since his August arrival on Wearside and has had to play up front alone in a number of games this season as boss Roy Keane has opted for a 4-5-1 line-up.

Though O'Donovan, back after a month sidelined with a stomach muscle strain, did a lot of hard work tracking back in midfield, his main role was in attack.

The former Cork City forward said: "To be honest, I think Kenwyne's the kind of player anyone could play alongside.

"It was great to be back in the side, and playing as a striker was a great bonus because I had the chance to work with Kenwyne.

"He gave John Terry and Alex a very hard time, and they're two quality international defenders. He was top class and deserved a goal on Saturday. I just kept trying to make runs off him.

"Of course I'd love to continue in the team and do my bit to help the club.

"There will always be chances for us when Kenwyne's in that kind of form and it's one of the reasons I'm confident we will stay in the Premier League."

Sunderland failed to make the most of their numerous chances as Chelsea skipper Terry's first club goal since August 2006 proved decisive.

It was the Black Cats' third defeat in four games – all of them 1-0 – and O'Donovan feels they need to learn their lesson quickly.

"The good teams in this league are clinical," he said. "They might not be playing well but find a way to win. Chelsea did that. John Terry played a leader's role with his goal.

"We had chances; Kenwyne had a couple and I should probably have scored. If we keep working hard we will get the breaks.

"We were perhaps a bounce of the ball away from winning on Saturday, but it's another defeat and we have to start afresh for the Villa game next weekend."

Boss Keane has said he feels O'Donovan can have an important role to play in the remainder of the season, citing the 22-year-old's never-say-die attitude as a praiseworthy trait.

The player added: "It is nice to have the manager saying good things about you and I have to deliver on that now.

"I think my main strength is that I keep going, no matter what way the game goes. For me, that's the first rule of being a professional.

"I think the squad the manager has assembled will always give 110 per cent and we have great support behind us. But it's about time we turn these decent performances into a scrappy point or three somewhere, hopefully at Villa."