In a recent interview with Football Insider, former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Michael Brown has urged Everton full-back, Jonjoe Kenny, to leave this month due to his diminishing role in Carlo Ancelotti’s squad. Brown said,
“I think for him (Kenny), he’s done a lot for the club over time and if he’s not going to play, I think he’d be the first to shout up and go and want to get some games.
“If he doesn’t see a future there then he’ll probably want to go and play. Burnley is a great destination.
“They’ve got a couple of full-backs already there, Bardsley is back to fitness, Lowton is doing alright so, again, he’s just got to play.”
Kenny’s Career At Goodison Park Has Come To A Standstill
Kenny has experienced a frustrating season at Merseyside as he has struggled to earn regular first-team opportunities in the Premier League so far. The 23-year-old has featured in seven matches for the Toffees this term, receiving a total of 299 minutes of game time in multiple competitions.
The Liverpool-born defensive ace had a fruitful loan spell at Schalke last season when he made 34 appearances for the German club, netting two goals and providing three assists on all fronts. He caught the eye by averaging 1.6 tackles, 0.8 interceptions and 2.4 clearances per 90 minutes in the previous Bundesliga campaign. However, Kenny was a bit untidy when interchanging possession with his teammates after he completed only 73.5% of his attempted passes in league football (stats via whoscored).
What Are The English Full-Back’s Best Attributes?
Kenny is a deceptively quick right-back who can be a reliable defender inside his half. He is often quick to sense the danger and is always willing to clear his lines when needed. The Everton academy graduate is not shy of working his socks off for his team’s benefit and is quite aggressive with his challenges on the defensive end of the pitch. However, he is in dire need to earn more playing minutes, which will help him grow as a full-back.
Should The Toffees Cut Him Loose?
Ancelotti has got enough strength in depth in his squad to cope with Kenny’s departure on a loan deal or permanently this month. The Italian tactician has often preferred to use Mason Holgate as a makeshift right-back this season while Seamus Coleman has been sporadically used by Everton so far.
Hence, Kenny is currently surplus to requirements at Goodison Park, so it is only fair to the player if the Toffees let him go before the end of this winter transfer window. Unless Ancelotti plans to use him in the long-run, the Merseyside outfit will be better off cashing in on him right now and use the money generated from his potential sale to improve other areas of their squad.
